A Greek-operated bulk carrier sailing from China to Turkey was attacked off the coast of Yemen and abandoned by its crew, Reuters reported, as Houthi militants claimed responsibility for the strike and said the vessel had sunk.
The MV Magic Seas, Liberia-flagged and carrying iron and fertilizers to Turkey, was struck on Sunday by gunfire, missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and sea drones. The 19 crew members were rescued by a passing ship and have arrived safely in Djibouti, according to sources cited by Reuters.
The Houthis said the assault was part of their ongoing campaign against ships linked to Israel, although the vessel’s managers, Stem Shipping and Allseas Marine, said it had no connection to Israel. Maritime analysts told Reuters that other ships in the Allseas fleet had made previous calls to Israeli ports, possibly putting Magic Seas at greater risk.
A day later, another Liberian-flagged Greek vessel, the Eternity C, was attacked 50 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah. The ship was hit by drones and skiffs carrying people who fired at least four rocket-propelled grenades. Two crew members were wounded and two others went missing, its manager Cosmoship Management told Reuters.
The Eternity C had not requested protection from the EU’s Operation Aspides, which confirmed the vessel was left adrift with severe damage to its bridge and telecommunications.
Since Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began in October 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea in what they call solidarity actions with Palestinians.