Tel Aviv, Israel (BN24) – Crew members aboard a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier attacked in the Red Sea evacuated the vessel Sunday night as it caught fire and began taking on water, marking the first major assault on shipping in the corridor in months, according to British military officials.
The attack struck the Greek-owned Magic Seas as it sailed about 60 miles southwest of Yemen’s Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported. The crew’s evacuation underscores the seriousness of the assault, which security analysts say signals that Yemen’s Houthi rebels may be resuming their campaign of targeting commercial shipping despite diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions.
While Houthi-run media reported the incident without claiming responsibility, suspicion fell squarely on the group. Private security firm Ambrey said armed skiffs attacked first, followed by bomb-laden drone boats. The firm reported that two of the drone boats successfully struck the Magic Seas while shipboard security teams managed to destroy two others before impact.
The ship, which was headed north through the Red Sea, broadcast distress calls as fires spread onboard. “Authorities are investigating,” UKMTO said, confirming the crew had abandoned ship. The U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet referred questions to U.S. Central Command, which said it was aware of the incident but did not offer further details.
Moammar al-Eryani, information minister for Yemen’s exiled government, blamed the Houthis and called the attack part of Iran’s strategy to destabilize the region. “The attack also proves once again that the Houthis are merely a front for an Iranian scheme using Yemen as a platform to undermine regional and global stability,” al-Eryani wrote on X, alleging Tehran has provided the militants with advanced weaponry, including drones, sea mines and missiles.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last October, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted shipping in the Red Sea in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians. Between late 2023 and early 2025, Houthi forces attacked more than 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors, severely disrupting maritime trade in a corridor that typically handles $1 trillion in goods annually.
The group declared a pause in attacks earlier this year after U.S. forces launched an intense campaign against its positions. However, the lull ended in mid-March, and Sunday’s strike is the most significant since then.
“The attack likely serves as a message that the Houthis continue to possess the capability and willingness to strike at strategic maritime targets regardless of diplomatic developments,” wrote Yemen analyst Mohammad al-Basha.
The timing comes as the region braces for more instability. A possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains uncertain, and Iran has hinted it could resume nuclear talks after U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities amid Israel’s conflict with Tehran-backed militias.
The Magic Seas incident also highlights the evolving tactics in Red Sea waters, where pirates and Yemen’s coast guard have previously engaged in firefights. However, neither group is known to deploy explosive drone boats.
Houthi officials offered no additional comment beyond acknowledging the incident on their al-Masirah satellite channel as the group’s secretive leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi delivered a televised speech.
