Red Sea Attacks Resume: IMO Calls for Diplomacy
Following a renewed surge in attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has called for intensified diplomatic efforts.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez characterized the resurgence of attacks in the Red Sea, after months of relative calm, as a "violation of international law and freedom of navigation." Dominguez emphasized that innocent seafarers and local populations are the primary victims of these actions.
Member States Show Solidarity
Numerous countries, including IMO Council Chairman Victor Jiménez, condemned the attacks, expressed solidarity with the victims, and voiced their support for the Secretary-General's call for dialogue.
According to IMO records, at least 69 attacks occurred in and around the Red Sea between November 2023 and October 2024. The actions recorded this week mark the first attacks registered since October 2024.
Houthis Defiant: Two Greek Vessels Targeted
The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen continue their attacks on commercial vessels, which they claim are linked to Israeli companies, in response to Israel's actions in Gaza. Most recently, two Greek-flagged commercial ships were targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea within a 24-hour period.
The Houthis released a video showing the sinking of the Magic Seas, a 200-meter-long vessel attacked on Sunday. A day later, they opened fire on the cargo ship Eternity C.
Successive Attacks and Casualties
The cargo ship Eternity C, sailing 51 nautical miles west of Yemen's Hodeidah, was reportedly first attacked on Monday afternoon by naval drones and rocket-propelled grenades from speedboats. The vessel, which was en route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was reportedly attacked again later that night.
Sources indicated that during the attack, lifeboats were destroyed, preventing the crew from safely abandoning the ship. Initial information suggests that at least four of the 22 crew members—21 Filipinos and one Russian—died, and two were injured. The vessel is reported to have sunk, and this incident is claimed to be the first shipping-related fatalities in the Red Sea since June 2024.
Sinking Video Released, Claimed to Be Carrying Fertilizer to Türkiye
The Houthis also released a video yesterday of another Greek cargo ship, the Magic Seas, being sunk. The vessel was attacked by weapons, rockets, and explosive-laden remote-controlled boats off the coast of Hodeidah in the Red Sea on Sunday. Its 19 crew members were rescued by another passing ship.
Houthis Military Spokesperson Yahya Saree stated, "We targeted the ship because it was using Israeli ports, and it sank." However, Stem Shipping and Allseas Marine, the companies operating the vessel, stated that it had no connection to Israel. The U.S. State Department condemned the attacks as "acts of terrorism."
Furthermore, it was claimed that the Magic Seas, which was reportedly traveling from China to Türkiye, was carrying iron and artificial fertilizer to Türkiye.
