Dubai: Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility on Monday for an attack on a bulk carrier in the Red Sea, which left the vessel taking on water before it sank. In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the Magic Seas vessel was hit on Sunday by 'two unmanned boats, five ballistic and cruise missiles, and three drones.'

According to Anadolu Agency, Saree stated that the operation directly hit the ship, leading to water ingress. The crew was allowed to safely evacuate before the vessel sank entirely into the depths of the sea. The Houthi spokesman accused the vessel and its owners of violating a 'ban on entering occupied Palestinian ports,' referring to Israeli ports, without naming the vessel's owner or operator.

Saree mentioned that several warnings were sent to the ship, which were ignored by the crew. The United Arab Emirates reported that it rescued the vessel's crew after the attack. A statement from the Foreign Ministry highlighted that the attack damaged the vessel's structure, forcing the crew to abandon the ship under challenging maritime conditions.

The UAE statement confirmed that all 22 individuals aboard, including crew and security personnel, were rescued. The operation was conducted in coordination with specialized maritime authorities, including the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and relevant international organizations.

The Houthis have intensified missile and drone strikes on Israel since the Israeli military resumed attacks on Gaza in March following a shaky ceasefire. Since November 2023, the group has also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where over 57,000 people have been killed in an Israeli onslaught.