HOUTHI rebels have sunk two giant cargo ships within days and kidnapped crew members – despite Donald Trump’s recent blitz to thwart them.
The group published striking visuals of the Greek-owned ship, Eternity C, sinking. The vessel had come under attack from gunfire and explosive drones, which resulted in the loss of at least four crew members.
Houthi rebels also sank bulk carrier Magic Seas in another hellish attack on Sunday.
The attack on the Eternity C, as well as the Magic Seas, represent a new level of violence unleashed by the Houthis after months of holding fire.
The Eternity C endured relentless assaults from drone boats, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, over a three-day span before its dramatic sinking on Wednesday, according to the group’s statement.
Four sailors were tragically killed, while six were found alive in the water and taken hostage.
A statement from the European Union naval mission in the Red Sea said 25 crew members were onboard Eternity C – including 22 sailors.
Among them were 21 Filipinos and one Russian, as well as a three-member security team.
Rescuers on Wednesday recovered five Filipinos and one Indian person.
One of the crew members lost their leg in the terrifying attack.
In the gripping footage shared by the group, one of the rebels can seemingly be heard on a VHF radio transmission, offering those aboard a chance to escape the descending ship.
But it wasn’t clear if any more crew fled – and what happened to them.
Other clips show dramatic explosions on board before the gargantuan vessel sinks within seconds.
In a post late Wednesday on the X, the US Embassy in Yemen said the rebels may have terrifyingly taken some of the crew.
“After killing their shipmates, sinking their ship and hampering rescue efforts, the Houthi terrorists have kidnapped many surviving crew members of the Eternity C,” the embassy said.
It added: “We call for their immediate and unconditional safe release.”
The Houthis haven’t acknowledged taking any of the fleeing crew – and didn’t mention whether it had hostages.
But the rebels can take days at times before acknowledging attacks.
Trump’s forces had hammered Houthi positions across Yemen in his brutal “Operation Rough Rider” to stamp out attacks on ships in the Red Sea – a vital artery for global trade.
The US also looked to batter Iran’s influence over the last major militant group capable of hitting Israel.
In April, US forces carpet bombed the rebels at a Yemeni oil port, causing huge fireballs to erupt across the Ras Isa Oil Port.
At the time, the US military confirmed it had carried out over 800 airstrikes in just 44 days as part of Trump’s ferocious campaign, killing hundreds of Houthi terrorists and several senior commanders.
Who are the Houthis?
THE Houthi rebels have spent months terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships – but who are they?
The Shia militant group, which now controls large swaths of Yemen, spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
Their warped battle cry is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
After the October 7 massacre, Houthis began launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships – including warships – they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally, Hamas.
In reality, they targeted commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to largely halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices around the world soaring.
The sea assaults added to the carnage in the Middle East tinderbox as intense ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza were felt across the region – with Iran accused of stoking the chaos.
The Houthi chiefs pledged their Red Sea attacks would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
The group’s chiefs have previously said their main targets are Israel, and its allies the US and Britain.
And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen – Iran’s terror proxy appears undeterred.
The UK and US have hit Houthi bases as recently as this month after the terror group once again targeted boats in the shipping lane.
Israel has also hammered the group with airstrikes, reportedly hitting oil storage tanks at the port in Al Hudaydah.
