4 sailors from Eternity C lifeless, 10 discovered alive, 11 nonetheless lacking – six believed to be in Houthi arms.
Houthi rebels in Yemen tried to strike Israel’s Ben Gurion airport after sinking two vessels within the Purple Sea this week, because the group ramps up its navy stress in assist of Palestinians below Israeli fireplace in its bid to deliver the battle in Gaza to an finish.
Houthi navy spokesman Yahya Saree mentioned on Thursday that the group had carried out a “qualitative navy operation” with a ballistic missile after the Israeli navy reported the strike had been intercepted.
In the meantime, maritime safety sources informed the Reuters information company that the Houthis had been holding six crew members from the Greek-operated, Liberia-flagged Eternity C vessel, which the insurgent group attacked on Monday, killing at the least 4 sailors.
A complete of 25 folks had been on board the Eternity C, based on Aspides, the European Union’s naval activity drive patrolling the Purple Sea. Ten crew members had been reportedly pulled out of the ocean alive after the vessel sank on Tuesday, whereas 11 are nonetheless lacking – with six believed to be in Houthi arms.
Saree mentioned on Wednesday that the Houthis had “moved to rescue quite a few the ship’s crew, present them with medical care and transport them to a protected location”.
America embassy in Yemen countered that on X, accusing the rebels of kidnapping the crew members after “killing their shipmates, sinking their ship and hampering rescue efforts”.
The assault on the Eternity C got here at some point after the Houthis struck and sunk the Magic Seas, reviving a marketing campaign launched in November 2023 that has seen greater than 100 ships attacked. All of the crew from the Magic Seas had been rescued.
After Sunday’s assault, the Houthis declared that ships owned by corporations with ties to Israel had been a “reputable goal” and pledged to “forestall Israeli navigation within the Purple and Arabian Seas … till the aggression towards Gaza stops and the blockade is lifted”.
Late on Sunday, Israel’s navy attacked Yemen, bombing the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and as-Salif, in addition to the Ras Qantib energy plant on the coast. The Houthis had fired missiles in direction of Israeli territory in retaliation.
Israel mentioned its assaults additionally hit a ship, the Galaxy Chief, which was seized by the Houthis in late 2023 and held in Ras Isa port.
The Houthis held 25 crew members from the Galaxy for 430 days earlier than releasing them in January this yr.
