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Renewed Attacks in Critical Shipping Lane
Another cargo ship has been attacked in the Red Sea, with two crew members injured and two reported missing. The assault occurred near Yemen's port city of Hodeida, where attackers used multiple small boats and drones to target the vessel en route to the Suez Canal.
Pattern of Escalation
This latest attack closely resembles Sunday's assault on the Liberian-flagged Magic Seas, which endured four hours of drone strikes, grenades, and gunfire before catching fire and taking on water. While crew members returned fire, the vessel reportedly sank according to Houthi claims, though this remains unconfirmed. All 22 crew were rescued by a nearby ship.
Breaking the Calm
These incidents end months of relative calm in the vital shipping corridor. Since the Gaza conflict began, Houthi rebels have attacked approximately 100 vessels but had paused major operations until this week. The renewed assaults have reversed the recent increase in Red Sea maritime traffic.
Regional Retaliation
Following Sunday's attack, Israel conducted airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, targeting three ports and a power station. Israel called this retaliation for "repeated Houthi attacks on Israel." Overnight, at least one rocket was fired from Yemen toward Israel, triggering air raid sirens in multiple cities.
Houthi Motives
A Houthi leader stated the attacks demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians and will continue until "aggression against Gaza stops." However, the shipping company operating Magic Seas confirmed the vessel had no Israeli connection, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of these maritime assaults.
