Video: How Houthis blew up Liberian-flagged Magic Seas off Yemen coast

Yemeni militant group Houthis has released a video showing it blowing up a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier, Magic Seas, in the Red Sea. The vessel was seized by the Iranian proxy group on Monday in a coordinated attack.

 

The ship was sunk around 51 nm southwest of Al Hudayah, Yemen. The seizure of the vessel happened just days after Israel said it targeted the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Galaxy Leader, which was seized by Houthis in 2023 before being used to house its radar. 

 

The assault began with small boats firing rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, followed by two explosive-laden drone boats striking the vessel, causing severe flooding and a fire. Houthi forces then boarded the ship, set demolition charges, and detonated them, leading to its sinking, according to reports.

 

According to Houthi media, the ship was targeted as retaliation for the ship’s alleged prior docking in Israel, violating their ban on vessels linked to Israeli ports. 

 

The crew were forced to abandon the ship, and they were rescued by another merchant vessel. The ship responded to a distress call from the Magic Seas stating its hull was damaged, prompting the crew to abandon ship under difficult sea conditions, according to the UAE ministry, which carried out the rescue operations.  All 22 crew members were safely evacuated with no reported injuries. 

 

The Houthis have threatened to target any ships that have vessels calling at ports in Israel. As per estimates, over 1,113 vessels called at Israeli ports in the last six months. The attack on the Magic Seas marked a restart of the Houthi attacking vessels in the southern Red Sea after a lull.

 

Middle East