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:<br /><br />*Recent Attacks:*<br /><br />- *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.<br />- *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.<br /><br />*Houthi Motivations:*<br /><br />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<br /><br />*Impact on Global Trade:*<br /><br />- Over 100 merchant ships targeted since November 2023<br />- Four vessels sunk, one seized, and at least eight sailors killed<br />- Red Sea shipping traffic declined by around 75% due to Houthi aggression<br />- Global shipping costs increased due to rerouting around Southern Africa³ ⁴
