NYN | News
On Monday, the military media affiliated with Sanaa’s forces broadcast video interviews with several crew members of the vessel ETERNITY C, which was sunk on June 9 after being accused of violating the naval blockade on Israeli ports.
During the interviews, the crew admitted that the ship was headed to the port of Eilat, while Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah port was used as a cover to refuel the vessel and conceal its true destination. The journey had originally departed from the port of Berbera in Somalia.
Several crew members stated they were not previously aware of any warnings, noting that the ship’s captain did not inform them of receiving alerts from Sanaa’s naval forces instructing them to halt their voyage. This lack of communication, they said, exacerbated the situation and ultimately led to the vessel being targeted.
The crew members delivered strong messages to global shipping companies, urging them to avoid any commercial dealings with Israel and warning that similar outcomes could occur if the Yemeni blockade is breached. They expressed regret, stating, “We are sorry that our ship was headed to Israel,” and called on vessels not to disable their identification systems while navigating the Red Sea.
The broadcasted footage included parts of the search and rescue operation, which lasted two days. During the mission, Sanaa’s naval units rescued 11 crew members, two of whom were injured and received medical care. One body was recovered from inside the vessel before it sank and was transported to a hospital.
A military source in Sanaa’s forces confirmed that the ship was targeted after repeatedly ignoring warnings transmitted via international Channel 16. The captain reportedly refused to comply with orders to stop, prompting a direct response in accordance with declared maritime rules of engagement.
According to the source, the ship was operated by COSMO SHIPMANAGEMENT SA, a company with a known history of dealings with Israeli ports. This includes the vessel HSL NIKE, which shipped cargo to Haifa ports from Turkey and Egypt on four occasions, as well as the FAITH, which made two similar trips in recent months.
Sanaa’s forces issued a clear message to all ship-owning and operating companies, emphasizing that maritime navigation will remain safe for all vessels—except those bound for ports in occupied Palestine or affiliated with companies that have violated the blockade.
The source reaffirmed that the naval forces will continue to enforce the comprehensive blockade and called on vessels not to disable identification systems and to maintain open communication channels. He added that Sanaa’s forces are fully prepared to respond to any contact via international Channel 16 or by email.
