Yemen’s Houthi movement on Monday claimed responsibility for an attack on a Liberian-flagged commercial vessel in the Red Sea.
The assault, carried out on Sunday, reportedly involved missiles and explosive-laden drone boats, igniting a fire aboard the “Magic Seas.” The damage caused the ship to take on water, forcing all 19 crew members and three armed guards to abandon it. The United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry later said that it had successfully rescued everyone on board.
In a post on X, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the vessel was targeted for previously docking in Israeli ports.
“Thanks to God and His power, the ship ‘Magic Seas’ sank completely into the depths of the sea after being targeted by our armed forces in response to the repeated violations by the owning company of the ban on entering the ports of occupied Palestine,” Saree said.
Stem Shipping, which manages the ship, denied any Israeli connection to the current voyage, stating the cargo was en route from China to Turkey.
In retaliation, the Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes on Sunday targeting Houthi-controlled infrastructure in Yemen. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), approximately 20 fighter jets struck the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and al-Salif, along with the Ras Kanatib power station.
The strikes also targeted the Galaxy Leader, a vessel docked in Hodeidah that was seized by the Houthis in November 2023. The IDF said the ship was being used as a radar platform to track maritime traffic and plan future attacks.
On Monday, Houthi forces announced they responded to the recent Israeli attack.
“In response to this aggression, and in continued support of the oppressed Palestinian people, the missile and UAV forces carried out a joint military operation utilizing 11 missiles and drones,” Saree said.
The operation targeted Ben Gurion Airport, the ports of Ashdod and Eilat, and a power station in Ashkelon. No casualties were reported on either side.
Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in 2023, the Houthis have launched hundreds of missiles at Israel and carried out over 100 attacks on commercial ships navigating the crucial Red Sea corridor.
The Houthis halted their attacks following the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in January but resumed them after the United States conducted strikes in Yemen on March 15.
