The Red Sea is back in the crosshairs. On July 7, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a coordinated assault on two commercial vessels, marking their first shipping attacks since November 2024. The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas was hit with drones, missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms fire. The crew of 22 abandoned ship. Hours later, the Eternity C, also Liberian-flagged, came under fire from small boats and bomb-laden drones. Three mariners were killed. Two more were wounded. One lost a leg. The vessel is now drifting in the Red Sea.
The Houthis used unmanned surface boats in the Magic Seas strike. Two of them detonated against the hull. Two more were destroyed by onboard security. The ship was carrying steel and fertilizer bound for Turkey. The attack occurred roughly 60 miles southwest of Hodeidah. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the crew was rescued and taken to Djibouti. The vessel is presumed sunk.
Israel responded with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled infrastructure. The ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif were hit. The Ras Kathib power plant was also targeted. Footage released by the Israeli military showed F-16s launching from southern bases. The Galaxy Leader, a ship seized by the Houthis in 2023, was struck again. Israel claims the rebels installed radar systems on the vessel to track maritime traffic. The Houthis say their air defenses repelled the attack. No casualties have been confirmed.
The Houthis fired two ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation. Sirens sounded in Jerusalem, Hebron, and near the Dead Sea. No injuries were reported. The Israeli Defense Forces say the missiles were intercepted. The Houthis claim they used locally manufactured surface-to-air missiles to counter Israeli jets. They also say they are prepared for a prolonged confrontation.
Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted over 100 merchant vessels. Two were sunk. Four sailors were killed. The Red Sea typically sees $1 trillion in annual trade. Traffic had started to recover in recent weeks. That recovery is now in question. The EU’s Operation Aspides warned that the new attacks “directly threaten regional peace and stability, global commerce and freedom of navigation.”
President Trump previously authorized a major airstrike campaign against the Houthis in April. That campaign ended in May. Israel is now acting alone. Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off.” The Houthis say they will continue targeting vessels linked to Israeli ports.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/houthi-attack-cargo-ships-deaths-european-naval-force-says
https://www.newsweek.com/houthi-red-sea-commercial-vessel-attack-magic-seas-2095349
