Houthi Attack on Cargo Ship Magic Seas Escalates Tensions in Red Sea
A Greek-operated, Liberian-flagged cargo ship, Magic Seas, came under a fierce multi-hour attack off Yemen’s coast on Sunday, highlighting renewed threats to maritime traffic in the Red Sea amid Israel-Houthi tensions.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the assault began early Sunday morning when eight small skiffs approached the Magic Seas approximately 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah. Armed assailants opened fire with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, while the ship’s crew attempted evasive maneuvers and returned fire to repel the attackers.
Security firm Ambrey reported that the attack intensified when four unmanned surface vessels (USVs) targeted the bulk carrier, striking its port side and causing explosions that ignited fires in the ship’s cargo holds. The firefight lasted for more than four hours, forcing the 19-member crew to issue a distress signal before abandoning ship. They were later rescued by a nearby merchant vessel, with no reported casualties among the crew.
The Magic Seas was carrying iron and fertilizers on a voyage from China to Turkey, according to the vessel’s operator, Greece-based Stem Shipping. Company spokesperson Michael Bodouroglou described the assault as “unprovoked” and “coordinated,” saying, “It struck us like lightning. Our crew is safe, but the ship’s fate hangs in the balance.”
Although no group officially claimed responsibility, maritime analysts and Western officials attributed the attack to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. The Houthis have escalated assaults on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait since late 2023, in what they say is retaliation against Israeli actions in Gaza and Western support for Israel.
The incident marks the first significant attack on a merchant vessel in the region since April, signaling a potential resurgence in Houthi operations targeting international shipping lanes. The Magic Seas remains adrift and heavily damaged, with assessments underway to determine whether it can be salvaged or poses an environmental hazard.
In response to the attack, multinational naval forces—including U.S., British, and EU warships operating under Operation Prosperity Guardian and EU’s Operation Aspides—have increased patrols in the Red Sea. Military officials expressed concerns that the renewed maritime threats could disrupt global trade, drive up shipping insurance premiums, and force vessels to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
“The Red Sea is a vital artery for global commerce,” said a U.S. Navy spokesperson. “These attacks endanger not only the crews but also stability in a region already strained by conflict.”
The Houthis’ targeting of the Magic Seas underscores the widening impact of the Israel-Hamas war, drawing maritime commerce into a dangerous political confrontation. Security experts warn that without a durable ceasefire in Gaza and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Yemen conflict, attacks on Red Sea shipping could become more frequent and more lethal.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the assault began early Sunday morning when eight small skiffs approached the Magic Seas approximately 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah. Armed assailants opened fire with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, while the ship’s crew attempted evasive maneuvers and returned fire to repel the attackers.
Security firm Ambrey reported that the attack intensified when four unmanned surface vessels (USVs) targeted the bulk carrier, striking its port side and causing explosions that ignited fires in the ship’s cargo holds. The firefight lasted for more than four hours, forcing the 19-member crew to issue a distress signal before abandoning ship. They were later rescued by a nearby merchant vessel, with no reported casualties among the crew.
The Magic Seas was carrying iron and fertilizers on a voyage from China to Turkey, according to the vessel’s operator, Greece-based Stem Shipping. Company spokesperson Michael Bodouroglou described the assault as “unprovoked” and “coordinated,” saying, “It struck us like lightning. Our crew is safe, but the ship’s fate hangs in the balance.”
Although no group officially claimed responsibility, maritime analysts and Western officials attributed the attack to Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. The Houthis have escalated assaults on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait since late 2023, in what they say is retaliation against Israeli actions in Gaza and Western support for Israel.
The incident marks the first significant attack on a merchant vessel in the region since April, signaling a potential resurgence in Houthi operations targeting international shipping lanes. The Magic Seas remains adrift and heavily damaged, with assessments underway to determine whether it can be salvaged or poses an environmental hazard.
In response to the attack, multinational naval forces—including U.S., British, and EU warships operating under Operation Prosperity Guardian and EU’s Operation Aspides—have increased patrols in the Red Sea. Military officials expressed concerns that the renewed maritime threats could disrupt global trade, drive up shipping insurance premiums, and force vessels to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
“The Red Sea is a vital artery for global commerce,” said a U.S. Navy spokesperson. “These attacks endanger not only the crews but also stability in a region already strained by conflict.”
The Houthis’ targeting of the Magic Seas underscores the widening impact of the Israel-Hamas war, drawing maritime commerce into a dangerous political confrontation. Security experts warn that without a durable ceasefire in Gaza and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Yemen conflict, attacks on Red Sea shipping could become more frequent and more lethal.
