The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas is sinking in the Red Sea after sustaining a coordinated assault involving gunfire, rocket-propelled grenades, and explosive-laden drone boats, forcing its 22 crew members to abandon ship, according to AP News.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack on Monday, marking their first significant maritime assault since April and escalating fears of renewed disruption to global shipping routes.
The attack unfolded approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Hodeida, a Houthi-controlled Yemeni port, as the vessel transited northbound toward Egypt’s Suez Canal. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), armed security teams aboard the Greek-owned Magic Seas initially returned fire during an assault by eight skiffs.
However, the situation deteriorated when bomb-carrying drone boats struck the hull, igniting fires and causing the ship to take on water. Crew members evacuated and were later rescued by a passing merchant vessel.
The incident coincides with heightened regional volatility, including potential Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations, US-Iran nuclear tensions, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
Hours after the Magic Seas attack, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa, and Salif, alongside the Ras Kanatib power plant. The Israeli military released footage of F-16s conducting the operation, asserting these sites facilitate Iranian weapon transfers for “terrorist operations against Israel and its allies”
Strikes also hit the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier hijacked by Houthis in November 2023, which Israel accused of hosting radar systems to track vessels.
The assault on the Magic Seas underscores the persistent threat to the Red Sea corridor, which handles $1 trillion in annual trade. While shipping traffic had partially recovered since a US-Houthi ceasefire in May, this attack risks reigniting disruptions.
