Four Filipinos feared dead in Yemen Houthi attack on cargo ship

Four Filipino crewmembers are feared to be the latest collateral damage in a Houthi attack off the coast of Yemen.

This follows reports from international news wires, including Reuters, that a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier with 21 Filipino and Russian crew members was hit by both a drone and speedboat attack on Tuesday.

Although the strike has been attributed to Houthi rebels, the group has yet to formally claim responsibility.

Four seafarers were reportedly killed in the attack. However, the nationalities of the fatalities aboard the bulk carrier Eternity C, operated by Greek shipping firm Cosmoship Management, have not been confirmed.

Two to three more seafarers were also reported injured.

The Department of Migrant Workers canceled a scheduled briefing in Manila regarding the incident and has yet to release official information.

As of writing, the Department of Foreign Affairs is being asked for updates on the situation.

Just hours before the incident, the Houthis claimed responsibility for another attack—this time on the Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated MV Magic Seas—which reportedly sank off southwest Yemen on Sunday.

The United States condemned the latest incident as an “unprovoked Houthi terror attack” on the civilian cargo vessel MV Eternity C in the Red Sea.

“These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and regional economic and maritime security,” the US Department of State said in a statement.

“The United States has been clear: We will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks, which must be condemned by all members of the international community,” the US government added.