Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Specialized security companies announced today, Monday, the cessation of search operations for those missing due to Houthi attacks targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea, part of a series of escalating assaults over recent months.
Satellite images show extensive oil slicks in the areas where the “Eternity C” and “Magic Seas” ships sank, while the fate of 11 crew members remains unknown.
Official data indicates that attacks carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthis in recent days resulted in the deaths of at least 4 sailors, while 10 others were rescued.
According to an analysis by the Associated Press, the oil slicks caused by the sinking extend approximately 80 kilometers from the site of the first ship and 65 kilometers from the second, posing a threat to marine ecosystems and wildlife in the region.
Security companies Ambrey and Diablos Group noted that search operations have stopped after all possibilities were exhausted, with the current focus on providing medical support to survivors.
It’s worth noting that the two distressed ships, flying the Liberian flag and under Greek ownership, were subjected to successive attacks involving small arms and explosive-laden drones.
The U.S. Embassy in Yemen expressed concerns about the possibility of the Houthis abducting some crew members, despite the rebels not providing any evidence to support claims of capturing sailors.
These developments come within the ongoing Houthi campaign since November 2023, which has targeted over 100 ships and disrupted vital shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
