Houthi Rebels Release Video of Missing Crew from Sunken Eternity C Ship

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels on Monday released video footage purportedly showing missing crew members from the Eternity C cargo ship, which they had sunk earlier this month in the Red Sea. The accompanying statement claimed the mariners had been “rescued” following the attack.

The Eternity C and Magic Seas were both targeted and sunk by the Houthis after the group resumed its maritime assault campaign, which had paused for several months. The campaign, tied to the Gaza conflict, aims at vessels allegedly linked to Israel.

Details of the Incident

According to the EU’s Operation Aspides naval mission, out of 25 crew members aboard the Eternity C, 15 remain unaccounted for, with four presumed dead.

The video released by the Houthis displays 10 individuals identified as crew members, mainly of Filipino nationality, being pulled from the sea wearing life jackets. Among them was a man, reportedly an electrician, who spoke in English while lying in a bed. Operation Aspides previously noted that a Russian electrician onboard had lost his leg.

The Houthi statement claimed:

• 11 crew members were rescued, including two injured individuals who received medical treatment.
• One body was recovered from the ship and taken to a hospital morgue.

Allegations of Coerced Confessions

In the footage, the crew — appearing to have been coached — stated that the ship was en route to the Israeli port of Eilat. The video ends with nine crew members saying in unison: “We are sorry, Palestinians.”

Last week, Human Rights Watch accused the Houthis of unlawfully detaining the sailors, classifying the maritime attacks as potential war crimes. The United States also charged that the rebels had kidnapped the missing crew.

Previous Detentions and Threats

This is not the first time the Houthis have held mariners. They previously detained the mostly Filipino crew of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship for over a year, only releasing them in January.

Houthi leader Abdelmalek al-Houthi defended the strikes on the Magic Seas and Eternity C, asserting both were operated by firms with ties to Israeli ports.

Despite a US-brokered truce in May aimed at safeguarding maritime navigation in the Red Sea, the Houthis declared on Sunday that they would continue to target any vessel owned by or operating for companies engaged with Israeli ports.