A series of naval attacks by Houthi rebels has caused serious concern among the international community. In just the last two days, two merchant ships - Magic Seas and Eternity C - were attacked, which may indicate a resumption of their systematic attacks in the maritime region.
According to data from the maritime security company Ambrey, the night attack on the Eternity C vessel was carried out with small armed boats and unmanned aerial vehicles carrying combat charges. Although the crew returned fire, the ship was forced to stop its engines and began drifting among the waves.
The previous day, the Houthis sank the Greek cargo ship Magic Seas, using a combination of unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles, anti-tank grenade launchers, and light weapons. Of the 22-member crew, all were successfully evacuated by a passing ship.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saria took responsibility for the attack, describing it as an action against the "occupied Palestinian territory". Paradoxically, the Magic Seas was carrying iron and fertilizers from China to Turkey and had no connection to Israel.
These attacks come after a temporary lull negotiated with the US administration. President Trump suspended military actions against the Houthis in May after they committed to not attacking American ships. This decision was met with surprise by allies such as Israel.
The statistics are impressive - from November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthis have attacked over 100 merchant ships, sinking two and killing four sailors. Their actions have drastically reduced trade traffic in the Red Sea, which traditionally serves trade exchange of about a trillion dollars annually.
Although they initially limited their attacks to only American vessels, the Houthis effectively ceased all maritime attacks from mid-April. However, the last two incidents show a possible change in their approach and a return to their aggressive strategy.
The international community is now carefully monitoring the situation, with concerns about the safety of maritime trade routes growing. Diplomatic channels are tense, and trade operators are on high alert.