Latest news with #OperationAspides
GMA Network
7 hours ago
- GMA Network
Owner of Huthi-sunk ship calls on rebels to release crew — statement
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The owner of the Eternity C, a ship attacked by Yemen's Huthis, urged the rebels to release its crew members on Tuesday, a day after the group released footage of the mariners they claimed to have rescued. Earlier this month, the Huthis sank the Magic Seas and Eternity C cargo ships in separate Red Sea attacks, ending a months-long hiatus in their campaign against maritime traffic they accuse of links to Israel, begun over the Gaza war. On Monday, the rebels released footage of the missing mariners and said in a statement that they had rescued 11 crew members, including two who were injured, and recovered a body from aboard the ship before it sank. "We call on all parties to assist in reuniting the 11 individuals with their loved ones and hope that the Huthis will release our crew at the earliest opportunity," Cosmoship, which owns Eternity C, said in a statement. Following the Eternity C attack, the European Union's Operation Aspides naval task force told AFP that 15 of the 25 people on the ship were still missing -- with four of them presumed dead. Cosmoship expressed relief that "ten of our missing crew members, as well as one of the vessel's security guards (11 in total), are alive and appear to be receiving care", after viewing the video. "Our utmost priority remains the safety and well-being of these individuals. We continue to work through every available channel to support their continued care and to facilitate their safe and swift return home to their families," it added. Earlier Tuesday, the Philippines said it would ask "friendly countries" to help secure the release of nine Filipino sailors held by the Huthis. In January, the Yemeni rebels released the mostly Filipino crew of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, whom they had detained for more than a year, during a ceasefire in Gaza. — Agence France-Presse
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Philippines to ‘seek help' securing release of Houthi-held sailors
MANILA: The Philippines said Tuesday it would ask 'friendly countries' to help secure the release of nine Filipino sailors being held by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The Iran-backed Houthis released footage on Monday of crew members missing after attacks on the Eternity C and Magic Seas cargo ships, claiming in an accompanying statement to have 'rescued' the mariners. Last week, Human Rights Watch said the rebels were unlawfully detaining the crew and that their attacks on shipping amounted to war crimes. The United States has accused the Houthis of kidnapping. Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega confirmed the Houthis were holding nine Filipino seafarers. 'I do not want to use the term hostage. At least we know they are alive,' he said. 'We're not going to talk directly with the Houthis. We're going to seek help from friendly countries,' he added. The European Union's Operation Aspides naval task force said that 15 of the 25 people onboard the Eternity C were still missing – with four presumed dead. The Philippines Department of Migrant Workers, which has overseen efforts to bring the survivors home, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Houthis sank the Magic Seas and Eternity C in separate Red Sea attacks this month, after a temporary hiatus in their campaign against maritime traffic. The Houthis launched attacks on ships in the trade route soon after the start of the Gaza war, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. The sinking of the Magic Seas was their first attack since late last year, with the Eternity C facing a similar fate soon after. In its statement, the Houthis said they rescued 11 crew members, including two injured, and also recovered a body from aboard the ship before it sank. The video appeared to show the moment the mostly Filipino crew were pulled from the sea wearing life jackets. A man the Houthis said was an electrician was shown lying in bed and speaking in English. Aspides had said a Russian electrician onboard the ship had lost his leg. De Vega said one of the nine Filipinos had suffered an unspecified injury, and that one of the non-Filipino personnel was also injured. Two weeks ago, eight other Filipino crew members who survived the Eternity C attack were flown back to the Philippines. All 17 Filipino seafarers from the Magic Seas have likewise been flown home. Previously, the rebels held the mostly Filipino crew of the Galaxy Leader merchant ship for more than a year, before releasing them in January. Filipino sailors make up as much as 30 percent of the world's commercial shipping force. The nearly $7 billion they sent home in 2023 accounted for about a fifth of the remittances to the archipelago nation.
CTV News
a day ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Yemen's Houthis threaten to escalate attacks on ships linked to companies dealing with Israel
This photo released by the European Union's Operation Aspides shows fires burning aboard the oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. (European Union's Operation Aspides via AP, File) ATHENS, Greece — The rebel Houthi group in Yemen has said it will target merchant ships belonging to any company that does business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality, as part of what it described as the next phase of its operations against Israel. The Iran-backed Houthis launched a campaign targeting merchant vessels in response to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, saying they were doing so in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Their attacks over the past two years have upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which $1 trillion of goods usually passes each year. In an announcement late Sunday night, the Houthis said they had 'decided to escalate their military support operations and begin implementing the fourth phase of the naval blockade' against Israel. They warned that they would target 'all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces.' The vessels would be targeted regardless of their destination, they added. The group said countries should pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza and lift its blockade on the Palestinian territory 'if they want to avoid this escalation.' Earlier this month, the Houthis attacked and sank two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carriers – the Magic Seas and the Eternity C. The attack on the latter left four crew members dead and 11 more were taken captive, while all 22 crew members of the Magic Seas were rescued before the ship sank. From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones. The rebels stopped their attacks during a brief ceasefire in the war and later became the target of an intense, weekslong airstrike campaign ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump. In May, the U.S. announced a deal with the Houthis to end the airstrikes in return for an end to shipping attacks, although the rebel group said the agreement did not include halting attacks on targets it believed were aligned with Israel. The Associated Press
Yemen Online
20-07-2025
- Business
- Yemen Online
Italian Warship 'Andrea Doria' Successfully Concludes Strategic Escort Mission Under EU's Operation "Aspides"
The Italian Navy's warship Andrea Doria has successfully completed a vital maritime security mission, ensuring the protected passage of several commercial vessels through high-risk zones as part of the European Union's Operation Aspides. According to military sources and EU officials, the guided-missile destroyer conducted intensive escort operations across designated areas in the Red Sea and surrounding maritime corridors, regions increasingly threatened by irregular hostile activities. The Andrea Doria provided a 'reliable and layered defensive posture,' leveraging advanced surveillance systems and naval coordination to shield civilian ships from potential threats. Operation Aspides, launched by the European Union as a response to growing instability in global shipping lanes, particularly amid regional tensions in the Middle East, aims to protect merchant vessels and uphold freedom of navigation. Italy's contribution, led by Andrea Doria, was lauded for its tactical precision and seamless interoperability with other EU maritime assets. Commanding officers emphasized that the operation not only safeguarded commercial interests but also reinforced international maritime law and Europe's commitment to collective security in volatile regions. The successful completion of the mission marks a strategic milestone for EU naval diplomacy, while showcasing Italy's leadership in multinational defense cooperation.
Economist
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Economist
The Houthis shatter European pretensions to naval power
Following America's ceasefire in May with the Houthis, an Iran-backed militia based in Yemen, the European Union had a chance to step out of America's military shadow in the Red Sea. The bloc's naval authority was running Operation Aspides, a 'purely defensive' mission in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and the Gulf, to restore maritime shipping through the region. The number of transits had plummeted since attacks by the Houthis started in October 2023, with the total volume falling by 60% (see chart).
