A commercial vessel in the Red Sea was attacked by small boats firing rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons on Sunday night. The UKMTO reported that the ship, identified as the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned Magic Seas, is taking on water after being targeted with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades. The crew had abandoned the ship before it began to burn.
The attack occurred 94km southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. Authorities are investigating the incident, which matches the “established Houthi target profile”. The Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea since October 2023, and their campaign has expanded to include vessels linked to the US and UK.
In May, the Houthis agreed on a ceasefire with the US, but vowed to continue targeting Israeli-linked vessels. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could draw in US and Western forces to the area, which is already tense due to a possible ceasefire in the war on Gaza hanging in the balance and Iran’s nuclear programme negotiations.
Maritime security firm Ambrey reported that four unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) were used in the attack, damaging the vessel’s cargo. The UKMTO later confirmed that the crew was safely rescued.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/6/gunmen-target-shipping-vessel-in-red-sea