The vessel was reportedly carrying iron and fertilizers from China to Turkey when it came under a sustained four-hour assault involving “gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades from skiffs, as well as by sea drones and missiles,” according to Michael Bodouroglou of Stem Shipping.
The sinking claim had not yet been independently verified, and representatives from Stem Shipping have been unable to confirm the vessel’s status.
In the video, the Houthis are shown hailing the vessel over VHF before ultimately attacking and boarding it. Later, explosives planted on the ship’s hull are detonated, and the ship slips below the surface.The footage recalls a previous incident involving the M/T Sounion, during which similar explosives were detonated on the deck of the tanker, sparking a fire. The ship was ultimately saved following a weeks-long salvage effort overseen by the EU’s naval force in the region.
The sinking of the Magic Seas marks the third commercial vessel sunk by the Iranian-backed group since they began targeting merchant shipping in November 2023.
The attack represented the first merchant vessel targeted in the southern Red Sea since December 2024. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the vessel suffered a multi-pronged attack offshore Hodeidah, beginning with small arms fire before escalating to unmanned surface vessels and missiles. All crew members abandoned ship and were rescued by a good samaritan vessel.
All 22 crew members were safely rescued by a passing merchant vessel in an operation coordinated by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and UK Maritime Trade Operations, and have since arrived safely in Djibouti.
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sare’e claimed responsibility, stating they targeted the vessel for “violating the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine.” Bodouroglou acknowledged that while the Magic Seas had previously called at an Israeli port, this particular transit “had nothing to do with Israel”.
The incident comes just months after a U.S.-Houthi ceasefire deal was reached in May 2025, though that agreement notably did not include Israel. The Houthis have maintained they will continue targeting vessels they believe are connected to Israel.
INTERCARGO Chairman John Xylas condemned the attack: “Seafarers are not targets. We are deeply shocked by the attack on the Magic Seas and our thoughts are with the crew. These are innocent people, simply doing their jobs, keeping global trade moving. No one at sea should ever face such violence.”
In a further escalation, three seafarers were killed on the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C in a similar attack on July 8, marking the first shipping fatalities in the Red Sea since June 2024. Both vessels were part of commercial fleets whose sister ships had made calls to Israeli ports over the past year.
