The European Union naval force announced that an attack carried out by the Houthis on a cargo ship raising the flag of Liberia, killing three sailors and wounding two others, in a new escalation that threatens navigation in one of the most important international maritime corridors.
Edge after a long calm
The attack targeted the Eternity C, owned by a Greek company, and came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on the Magic Seas in the same area. This is the first major Houthi escalation against commercial ships since the end of 2024, after a period of relative decline in threats.
Details of the attack
The ship was sailing north towards the Suez Canal when it was attacked by small boats and drones carrying bombs. According to the European “Espeides” force and the private security company “Ambry”, the security forces on board the ship fired, but the attack caused damage to the driving bridge and the engine room, which made the ship drifting into the sea.
Stalled crew and another ship sank
The European force said that one of the injured had lost his leg, while the ship’s crew is still on board. On the other hand, the “Magic Cies” ship sank after its 22nd crew forced to abandon it under the fire of missiles and Houthi shells.
A promotional registration for the Houthis
The Houthis released a video on Tuesday evening threatening the “Magic Cies” ship through radio waves, then their elements appear storming the ship and putting explosives later, which caused it to be fully drowned. This method was previously repeated in the attack on the “Sonion” carrier in August 2024.
International condemnation
Many countries condemned the Houthi attacks, warning against the threat of regional and global navigation. The European Union considered that these attacks represent a threat to maritime security and global trade and increase the exacerbation of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Iran’s role and regional escalation
The United States said that these attacks confirm the constant danger posed by the Houthis backed by Iran. This escalation comes at a sensitive time, coinciding with the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, the truce efforts in Gaza, and the continued tension with Iran after targeting its nuclear facilities in June.
The background of the Houthi maritime campaign
From November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthi group has targeted more than 100 commercial ships, causing two ships to be drowned and four sailors were killed. The attacks have declined since Washington announced that the Houthis have pledged to stop the attacks last March. However, the last two attacks raises fears of the resumption of a large -scale campaign.
The future of navigation in the Red Sea
Despite a recent return to the navigation movement, the American “Sofan” Institute indicated that the recent attack “dispels allegations of the success of the American Reders operation” and doubts the ability of the United States to ensure maritime security unless things develop into a broader campaign that calls for military intervention again.
