Cargo Ship Magic Seas Sinks In Red Sea After Explosive Attack By Houthis

A commercial cargo ship named Magic Seas, operated by a Greek company and sailing under a Liberian flag, has sunk in the Red Sea following a violent attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

According to Houthi spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the group’s armed forces launched the attack on the Magic Seas in response to what they claim were repeated violations by the shipowner, who ignored the group’s ban on vessels heading to Israeli ports.

Saree announced on July 7, that the ship had sunk after being targeted with missiles and explosive-laden drone boats.

The vessel was sailing from China to Turkey and was carrying a cargo of fertilizers and ferrous metals. On Sunday, July 6, it came under assault in the Red Sea near the Yemeni coast, about 60 nautical miles southwest of Hodeida, a region controlled by the Houthis.

The attack involved multiple types of weapons. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported that armed men in motorboats approached the vessel and opened fire using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, as well as deploying uncrewed boats packed with explosives.

Ambrey, a private maritime security company, later confirmed that two of the drone boats struck the vessel, while two others were destroyed by the armed security team on board.

مشاهد وثقها طاقم السفينة MV MAGIC SEAS بعد الاستهداف pic.twitter.com/FGCxhwBTVJ

— سعيد المعيَني (@saeedalmaini) July 7, 2025

The ship suffered major damage, caught fire, and began to take on water. The situation quickly worsened, forcing all 22 crew members to abandon the ship. They were later rescued safely by a passing merchant vessel, according to maritime security organisations and the European Union naval patrol group, Operation Atalanta.

Earlier, Stem Shipping, the Greek operator of Magic Seas, had confirmed that 19 crew members had evacuated and were safe. Later updates clarified that a total of 22 mariners were on board at the time of the attack.

As of now, there has been no official response from the ship’s owners or international maritime authorities confirming the vessel’s sinking. However, Saree’s announcement stated that the Magic Seas had indeed gone down in the Red Sea on Monday, the day after the attack.

The group has targeted dozens of civilian ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, particularly those they believe are linked to Israel or heading toward Israeli ports since mid-November 2023. These actions began after the escalation of the conflict in Gaza, where the Houthis declared their support for the Palestinian group Hamas and warned Israel of consequences.

Initially, the Houthis had suspended strikes on Israel following a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, but they resumed attacks after the ceasefire collapsed.

In response to the growing threat to global shipping and regional security, U.S. forces began carrying out airstrikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen on March 15, following orders from U.S. President Donald Trump. According to U.S. Central Command, the airstrikes aimed to protect American interests and restore freedom of navigation in the region.

After the U.S. strikes, the Houthis retaliated by attacking the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the northern Red Sea using both drones and missiles.

References: TASS, LiveMint

Source: Maritime Shipping News