Iran-backed Houthi forces announced on Monday afternoon that they had carried out a coordinated attack on a commercial ship in the Red Sea. The group claimed the vessel, named Magic Seas, belonged to a company that had “violated the ban on entering ports in occupied Palestine,” and said the strike was executed using naval drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, and UAVs.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement, seen by Al-Mashhad Al-Yemeni, that the attack involved two unmanned boats, five ballistic and cruise missiles, and three drones, directly hitting the ship and causing severe damage and water ingress. He added that the vessel was now at risk of sinking.
Saree claimed that the crew was allowed to leave safely and that the strike followed repeated warnings which the ship’s crew allegedly ignored. He placed full responsibility on the ship’s owner and warned that any vessel linked to the company would be treated as a legitimate target “wherever our forces can reach it.”
He also reaffirmed the continuation of operations aimed at Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, as well as at disrupting activity at the port of Umm al-Rashrash, until Israel halts its offensive in Gaza and lifts the blockade.
On Sunday evening, a commercial vessel began sinking off the Yemeni coast in the Red Sea after a reported attack southwest of the port city of Hodeidah, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
UKMTO reported receiving a notification that the vessel targeted earlier — located about 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah — had started sinking, and that the crew was preparing to evacuate.
Earlier Sunday afternoon, UK-based maritime security firm Ambrey confirmed a complex attack on a commercial ship in the same area involving four marine units, including two explosive-laden unmanned boats that struck the vessel’s port side, damaging its cargo.
Ambrey stated that initial evidence suggested the ship met the criteria previously announced by the Houthis for targeting vessels in the Red Sea.
UKMTO confirmed the vessel had come under fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades launched by armed speedboats, and noted that an onboard security team returned fire. As of the last update, the situation remained active.
Further details from Ambrey revealed that eight small boats were involved in the assault, two of which rammed into the ship, causing significant damage. The attack occurred while the vessel was sailing northward through the Red Sea.
UKMTO had earlier classified the incident as a “security event” and confirmed reports of armed boats engaging the ship, resulting in a firefight between attackers and the ship’s security team.