Unidentified perpetrators launched an assault on the Magic Seas.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched an attack on a Greek dry bulk carrier, the Magic Seas, in the Red Sea, marking their first assault on Red Sea shipping since December of last year.
The incident occurred on July 6, 2025, approximately 51 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. The attack involved eight skiffs armed with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) that opened fire on the vessel. The armed security team on board returned fire, and subsequently, the ship was attacked by four unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), or drone boats. Two of the unmanned vessels struck the left side of the Magic Seas, causing damage to the cargo.
The Yemeni Houthis claimed the attack was in solidarity with Palestinians in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Egyptian security firm Ambrey assessed that the Magic Seas met the established Houthi target profile.
This attack is part of an intermittent campaign by the Houthis against shipping in the Red Sea, which has seen a resurgence after a pause since December 2024. The Houthis have previously targeted vessels linked to Israeli business interests, and their campaign quieted somewhat earlier in 2025 due to a series of American airstrikes and a ceasefire agreement regarding American vessels. However, the threat to shipping interests linked to Israel has persisted.
The crew of the Magic Seas abandoned the ship after it caught fire and began taking on water, and were later rescued by a passing merchant vessel. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the attack, but there have been no reports of casualties among the crew.
Since November 2023, the Yemeni Houthis have carried out over 100 attacks on ships. In May, President Donald Trump announced that the US would stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen. However, later in June, the Houthis threatened to attack American ships in the Red Sea if Washington was involved in Israeli strikes on Iran.
References: [1] BBC News, "Yemen rebels claim attack on tanker near Red Sea port," July 7, 2025. [2] Reuters, "Yemen's Houthis attack Greek bulk carrier in Red Sea," July 7, 2025. [3] Associated Press, "Crew of Greek ship rescued after attack in Red Sea," July 8, 2025.
The first sentence: The attack on the Greek dry bulk carrier, Magic Seas, in the Red Sea by the Yemeni Houthis is a recent example of general-news incidents that involve politics.
The second sentence: This attack is part of a larger pattern of politics-related activities by the Yemeni Houthis, as they have been involved in over 100 attacks on ships since November 2023, with many of these attacks having political implications.
