The Yemeni government, via Omani mediation, released the crew of the Eternity C vessel on Wednesday, transferring them from the Yemeni capital to Muscat.

On the night of July 7, 2025, the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C was targeted in the southern Red Sea by the Yemeni Armed Forces, after it was confirmed that the vessel was en route to the port of Umm al-Rashrash in occupied Palestine, thus violating the maritime ban.

The ship came under attack by a specialized naval unit using drones and explosive-laden boats, sustaining critical damage and eventually sinking.

Following the operation, the Yemeni Navy launched a search and rescue mission, retrieving eleven crew members from the sea. Two of them were provided with medical treatment, while the body of one deceased sailor was recovered from the wreck before the vessel submerged.

Yemeni military media later aired interviews with the rescued crew, who confirmed that the Eternity C had violated the maritime navigation ban enforced on all ships attempting to dock at ports in occupied Palestine.

Yemen's blockade for Gaza

In support of Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli aggression, Ansar Allah had earlier declared the imposition of a naval blockade on "Israel", warning that any vessel heading to or linked with "Israel" would be considered a legitimate target.

A similar earlier event involved the oil tanker Marlin Luanda, which was hit by an anti-ship missile in January 2024 while navigating south of Aden. The strike caused a fire in one of its cargo tanks, triggering a multi-vessel firefighting operation involving foreign navies.

Although the crew survived and the fire was extinguished, the attack underscored the growing reach of Ansar Allah’s maritime campaign beyond isolated incidents. In July 2025, Magic Seas was reportedly hit with missiles, drones, and explosive boats before the crew evacuated safely.