
Houthis hold 10 crew from Greek-operated ship they sank off Yemen
The Liberia-flagged Eternity C was the second ship to sink off Yemen this month after repeated attacks by Houthis with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades. Another Greek-operated vessel, the Magic Seas, had gone down days earlier.
The strikes on the two vessels marked a revival of attacks on shipping by the Houthis, who have hit more than 100 ships between November 2023 and December 2024 in what they say is a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in the war in Gaza.
The Eternity C crew and three armed guards were forced to abandon the ship following the attacks. Ten people were rescued by a privately-led mission, while five more are feared dead mainly due to the attacks.
Another 10 people were believed to be held by Houthis, maritime security sources had told Reuters.
On Monday, the Houthis released a six-minute video showing pictures of the 10 seafarers with some of them contacting their families. They also showed testimonies saying that the crew members were not aware of a maritime ban by Houthis against vessels sailing to Israeli ports. They said the vessel was heading to Israel's Eilat Port to load fertilizers.
Reuters could not independently verify the footage.
In what they called phase four of their military operations, the Houthis said on Sunday they would target any ships belonging to companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationalities.
Following the recent attacks, Greece said it would deploy a salvage vessel in the Red Sea to assist in maritime accidents and protect seafarers and global shipping.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
German football team say they won't sign Israeli player after fan outrage
German football team Fortuna Dusseldorf announced on Tuesday that they decided against signing Israeli international Shon Weissman after fans protested his social media posts, which advocated for the wiping out of Gaza. The second division side said in a short statement on X that they had opted not to sign the 29-year-old and that he would be staying at the Spanish second division side Granada CF. The decision came a day after Fortuna fans launched an online petition asking the club's hierarchy not to sign the striker due to his past "controversial comments". "Weissman's comments, which have been widely perceived as discriminatory and disrespectful, are in stark contrast to the principles Fortuna Dusseldorf stands for and strives to promote," the petition said. "Signing him could damage the credibility of the club and its fan base, which embraces diversity and community. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "There are many talented players who better reflect the spirit and ethics of our club." In October 2023, Weissman is reported to have shared and liked posts calling for Gaza to be "wiped off the map". He also reportedly posted: "What's the logical reason that 200-ton bombs haven't been dropped on Gaza yet?". In another post, when responding to a photo of two detained Palestinian men, he allegedly wrote: "Why the hell aren't they being shot in the head?" Israel's Olympic flag-carrier wrote message on bomb bound for Gaza Read More » According to the Italian newspaper Il Mattino, a local prosecutor in Granada had received a hate crimes complaint over the posts. Weissman's agent later said the now-deleted posts and likes were not made by the player himself but by a social media manager who had access to his accounts. Middle East Eye reached out to Fortuna Dusseldorf and Granada CF for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication. According to German media reports, Fortuna were considering signing Weissman for around €500,000 ($576,000), taking advantage of a drop in his market value due to a lacklustre stint in the Segunda division last season, where he bagged just two league goals. In the season before, whilst on loan at US Salernitana 1919, Weissman failed to help the Italian club avoid relegation from the top flight to Serie B. Since Israel went to war on Gaza, several Israeli athletes, including Olympians, have expressed support for the Israeli military's assault, with some signing messages on bombs prior to them being fired against besieged Palestinians. According to the Palestinian Football Association, at least 400 footballers have been killed and nearly 300 sports facilities, including stadiums, gyms and club buildings, have been destroyed.


Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli attacks kill 11 in Gaza today
Israeli attacks have killed at least 11 people in Gaza since dawn today, Al Jazeera Arabic reported, citing the hospitals in the Strip.

Middle East Eye
5 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli forces kill three Palestinian aid seekers
Three Palestinians have been killed and several others injured while waiting for food aid north of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. Palestinians carry aid supplies in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, 4 August 2025 (Reuters)