The Houthis, a Yemen-based militant group backed by Iran, have escalated their attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, sinking two cargo ships recently. Here's a brief overview¹:
*Recent Attacks:*
- *Magic Seas*: Sank on July 6 after being hit by Houthi drones and missiles. All 22 crew members were rescued by a passing merchant vessel.
- *Eternity C*: Sank on July 9 after sustaining damage from drone and missile fire. Four sailors were killed, 10 rescued, and 11 are still missing, with some reportedly kidnapped by the Houthis.
*Houthi Motivations:*
The group's attacks aim to support Palestinians in Gaza and target vessels with links to Israel, the US, or UK. However, they've attacked ships indiscriminately, disrupting global trade.²
*Impact on Global Trade:*
- Over 100 merchant ships targeted since November 2023
- Four vessels sunk, one seized, and at least eight sailors killed
- Red Sea shipping traffic declined by around 75% due to Houthi aggression
- Global shipping costs increased due to rerouting around Southern Africa³ ⁴
