Yanki Farber
Houthis have resumed attacks against civilian vessels in the Red Sea for the first time since November 2024, sinking two merchant ships.
On July 6, 2025, the Magic Seas, a ship owned by a Greek company and sailing under the Liberian flag, was attacked while sailing near the port of Al-Hudaydah in the Red Sea. It was reported that several boats attacked the ship with light weapons, and missiles and unmanned surface vessels (USVs) were launched at it, causing a fire. All 22 crew members were rescued safely.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack using drones, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and confirmed that the ship had sunk. According to him, the vessel was attacked because it belonged to a company that violated the ban on entering ports in “Occupied Palestine” and did not heed warnings from Houthi forces.
According to the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Saree threatened that Houthi forces would continue to act against vessels that violate the Houthi-imposed ban on entering Israeli ports. The Houthis also released a video documenting the attack, during which Houthi fighters boarded the vessel and detonated explosives, causing it to sink.
On July 7, 2025, the Eternity C, also owned by a Greek company and flying the Liberian flag, was attacked while sailing west of Al-Hudaydah. It was reported that at least three crew members were killed — the first fatalities from a Houthi attack on civilian vessels since June 2024. The ship sank, and maritime security firms worked to rescue the crew. The Houthis have not yet officially claimed responsibility for this attack.
The President of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, stated that the Houthis are committed to freedom of navigation for everyone except “the Israeli entity and those who support its aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.” He claimed they have no desire to harm anyone not connected to support for Israel and said a humanitarian operations center has been established to coordinate with shipping companies to prevent harm as much as possible. Al-Mashat emphasized that shipping companies must “comply with the instructions and decisions of our forces, and anyone who ignores them will bear the responsibility.” He added that Houthi forces would continue their actions with the aim of “stopping the aggression and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip,” in accordance with international conventions.
