The Yemen-based Islamist Houthi militia have once again demonstrated that they present an enduring threat to international shipping in the Red Sea region by sinking two cargo ships within the space of a week.

On 6 July 2025 the Houthis launched missiles and bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated cargo ship Magic Seas. Video footage released by the Houthis on 8 July showed armed men boarding the vessel and setting off a series of explosions that caused it to sink. All 22 crew of the stricken vessel were safely rescued by a passing merchant vessel.

A videograb from Houthi-released footage showing explosives sinking the cargo vessel Magic Seas on 6 July 2025. [Houthi Media Centre]
On 7 July, meanwhile, the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated cargo vessel Eternity C was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades fired from small boats, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO), while the Houthis claimed they targeted the Eternity C with “an unmanned boat and six cruise and ballistic missiles”. Of the 22 crew members and three-person security team on board, three were killed in the attacks, 10 were rescued from the sea, while others were kidnapped by the Houthis. The ship ultimately sank on the morning of 9 July, according to the UKMTO.

The Houthis, who claimed both vessels were targeted because they were allegedly headed towards Israel, have vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza. The militia have also targeted Israel with multiple missiles and bomb-laden UAV attacks.

A videograb from Houthi-released footage of the sinking of the cargo vessel Eternity C on 9 July 2025. [Houthi Media Centre]
The Houthis, which have ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), are the one remaining Iranian-supported proxy that continues to pose a significant threat, after operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have significantly degraded the capabilities of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

Houthi installations have been targeted numerous times by US and allied air strikes, while on the night of 6/7 July Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple Houthi sites in Yemen, including the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif, the Ras Khatib power station and the roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier Galaxy Leader, which was hijacked by the Houthis in November 2023. The IDF has claimed that the Houthis “installed a radar system on the ship and are using it to track vessels in international maritime space in order to promote the Houthi terrorist regime’s activities”.

Despite those operations, however, the Houthis clearly remain a significant threat to Red Sea shipping.