The Houthis are stepping up attacks on cargo vessels passing off the coast of Yemen. Following the assault on 6 July against the Greek bulk carrier Magic Seas—which resulted in a fire and the subsequent abandonment of the ship by its crew—another strike was launched on 7 July from Yemen's coastline, using similar tactics. It occurred at dawn, about 50 nautical miles southwest of the port of Hodeidah, considered a Houthi stronghold. The cargo vessel Ethernity C, carrying dry goods, was hit through a coordinated operation involving marine drones, small armed speedboats, and likely aerial drone support. The ship sails under the Liberian flag and is operated by the Greek company Cosmoship Management.
The attack left Ethernity C adrift, with its bridge damaged, communication systems knocked out, and two crew members seriously wounded. Another two remain missing. The ship had a crew of 22 on board, 21 of whom were Filipino. Armed guards on board attempted to mount a defence, but the intensity and coordination of the assault prevailed. After the crew was evacuated, the vessel was left drifting in the Red Sea.
The fate of the Magic Seas remains uncertain. The Houthis claim the vessel sank following their attack, but as of the morning of 8 July, there has been no confirmation from independent sources. The Greek shipowner, Stem Shipping, has so far stated that the ship sustained extensive damage, including a bow fire, flooding in the engine room, and a loss of electrical power, making the loss of the vessel “highly likely”. UK Maritime Trade Operations and Operation Atalanta have issued safety warnings: the ship’s last known position (14°57′ N – 41°39′ E) indicated it was adrift, unlit, and listing, with no new AIS signals received. Authorities consider the area too dangerous for towing or inspection attempts due to the ongoing Houthi threat.
Meanwhile, the crew of 19 seafarers and three guards, all unharmed, were brought safely to Djibouti by the container ship Saffen Prism. In the wake of the incident, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers has issued a ban on Filipino seafarers boarding vessels managed by the operators of Magic Seas and Ethernity C. Should the Magic Seas indeed have sunk or do so soon—a highly likely outcome—it would mark the third vessel lost to Houthi attacks since the beginning of their naval campaign in support of Gaza.
The attacks on two merchant ships within 24 hours make it increasingly unlikely that shipowners will choose to return to the Red Sea, at least until the situation in Gaza stabilises. Far from subsiding, the risks to vessels and crews are intensifying, as Houthi strikes become more sophisticated and deadly. Even before these latest incidents, war-risk insurance premiums for the Bab el-Mandeb corridor had surged by up to 400% compared to 2023 rates and are almost certain to rise further.
So far, countermeasures against the Yemeni group have not yielded the desired results. Shortly after the attack on the Magic Seas, Israeli air forces launched raids on Yemeni ports including Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif, causing an estimated $1.4 billion in damage to port infrastructure and reducing the region’s logistical capacity by 70%. However, the assault on the Ethernity C shows that the Houthis’ military capabilities remain undiminished.
Nor has the multinational operation Prosperity Guardian, launched by the United States in December 2023, managed to secure the region. France, Italy, and Spain opted not to participate actively, and the collapse of a May agreement underscored how fragile alliances are in a context shaped by regional rivalries and overlapping geopolitical interests. These latest attacks confirm that the Red Sea has become a critical flashpoint for international security. The military sophistication of the Houthis, regional instability, and the inability of major powers to ensure the safety of maritime trade routes combine to create a deeply alarming picture. Unless a lasting political solution is found to the Yemeni conflict, the risk that this local crisis will continue to have global repercussions remains extremely high.
