A dramatic and deadly series of events unfolded in the Red Sea this week, as Houthi rebels claimed to have sunk a Greek-owned vessel, the Magic Seas, in a brazen attack on Sunday. The Liberian-flagged ship was hijacked by the Iran-backed Yemeni group, who rigged it with explosives and filmed its sinking.
According to reports, the attack began with rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire from Houthi rebels wielding Kalashnikovs. The captain’s distress call was received by the coast guard, stating, “The vessel needs immediate assistance, rescue, rescue, the vessel will be abandoned. I need rescue for my crew… The vessel has been seized by Houthis and will be sunk. Mayday.” The ship was located approximately 51 nautical miles from Hodeidah, a Yemeni port controlled by the Houthis.
The Houthis published an edited video of the attack, showing the ship coming under fire, being stormed by gunmen, and eventually sinking after several synchronized explosions. The video cuts to a wide drone shot of the ship rigged with at least five explosives, blowing up from below the waterline, with water and smoke rising. All 19 crew members and three armed guards were evacuated and are believed to have been taken by a passing ship to Djibouti.
This attack follows a deadly assault on Monday, where the Houthis hijacked the Liberian-flagged Eternity C freighter ship, killing four crew members. Rescuers have pulled seven crew members alive from the Red Sea waters and are searching for 14 more. “We will continue to search for the remaining crew until the last light,” said an official at Diaplous, a maritime risk management firm based in Greece.
The two attacks this week mark a significant escalation in the Red Sea, a key global shipping lane for oil and commodities. The Houthis had agreed to a “ceasefire” with the US in May, but have resumed attacks in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Israel has retaliated with airstrikes on Houthi targets, including the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Issa, and a power plant. The strikes involved 20 Israeli fighter jets and over 50 munitions.
The Red Sea has seen a significant drop in traffic since the start of the Houthi campaign, with over 100 ships attacked by the end of last year. The latest attacks and retaliations are likely to further destabilize the region and impact global shipping.
Key Developments:
– Houthi rebels claim to have sunk Greek-owned vessel Magic Seas in Red Sea
– Israel retaliates with airstrikes on Houthi targets, including ports and power plant
– Four crew members killed in Monday’s attack on Eternity C freighter ship
– Rescuers searching for 14 missing crew members
– Traffic in Red Sea has dropped significantly since start of Houthi campaign
Regional Impact:
The Red Sea is a critical shipping lane for oil and commodities, and the latest attacks and retaliations are likely to have significant regional and global implications. The Houthis’ actions have already led to a decline in traffic, and further escalation could have far-reaching consequences for the global economy.
