&w=3840&q=100)
Watch: Houthis release drone videos of two Liberian-flagged ships they sank
Yemen's Houthis released videos of their attacks on two Liberian-flagged vessels. Image courtesy: X.com
In a sharp escalation of maritime violence, Iran‑backed Houthi rebels recently attacked two vessels in the Red Sea.
Following the attacks, the Yemen-based militants also released video footage of their attacks that sank two Liberian‑flagged cargo vessels, putting up a visceral reminder of a growing security threat in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
Ships struck in separate but closely timed attacks
The first vessel, the Magic Seas, a Liberian‑flagged, Greek‑managed bulk carrier, was attacked on July 6 in the southern Red Sea with small arms, rocket‑propelled grenades and explosive drone boats. The ship caught fire and sank after its crew abandoned it; all 19 crew members and three security guards were rescued unharmed.
The Houthis promptly released a video showing explosions onboard the vessel and the ensuing sinking.
Exclusive footage shows the targeting and sinking of the "MV Star Magic" in the Red Sea, after its owners violated the Yemeni Armed Forces' ban on ships heading to Israeli-occupied ports. pic.twitter.com/TwnnmfVPes — Yemen Military (@Yemeni_Military) July 8, 2025
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
A few days later, the Liberian‑flagged Eternity C, also Greek‑operated, was struck on 7 July by sea drones and rocket‑propelled grenades, and again by uncrewed surface vessels the next day.
It sank on July 8 after the crew abandoned ship. At least four crew members were killed, ten rescued, six are unaccounted for and may be held captive by the Houthis. The group released footage showing an evacuation broadcast and explosions before the ship submerged.
BREAKING:
The Houthis have published a video of their attack against the Greek-owned bulk carrier Eternity C.
The killed a number of Filipino sailors and took several more hostage.
This video shows the ship sinking earlier today pic.twitter.com/Ze2DyWTUxq — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 9, 2025
Global condemnation and growing tensions
The United States has accused the Houthis of 'kidnapping' crew members from the Eternity C and demanded their release. A European Union naval force confirmed that only six of the 25 crew on board were rescued .
These two incidents represent the first confirmed sinkings by the Houthis since June 2024 and mark a renewed campaign targeting ships they claim are linked to Israel. The International community, including the UN's envoy, has expressed grave concern at the escalation and the potential for environmental harm.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Reuters analysed Houthi footage and noted that both vessels were Greek‑operated but Liberian‑flagged. Firstpost has not independently verified the footage.
Commercial routes at risk amid Gaza war fallout
The Houthi assaults are widely interpreted as a reaction to the Gaza conflict and Israeli strikes on Yemen. The group says it is acting in solidarity with Palestinians .
Shipping in the strategic Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb corridor, responsible for about 12 percent of global trade, has already been under siege since November 2023.
Over 100 vessels have been attacked in that time. The recent sinkings threaten to destabilise the fragile calm following earlier US‑led naval patrols and temporary ceasefires .
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Assam govt realises ₹7.5 cr from Haryana-based company for evading tax
The Assam government on Wednesday realised ₹7.5 crore for tax evasion from a Haryana-based company involved in constructing a four-lane road from Dhemaji to Oyan in Arunachal Pradesh, an official said. Investigations have so far revealed an estimated tax evasion of around ₹ 64 crore. A 12-member team from Guwahati conducted an investigation into tax evasion allegations against Kaluwala Construction Private Limited over six days. Investigations have so far revealed an estimated tax evasion of around ₹64 crore. The company failed to provide adequate justification for several discrepancies identified in their GST profile during the verification process, the official said. 'As a result, immediate enforcement action was taken, leading to the recovery of ₹7.5 crore', he added. Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the evasion.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
HC lifts interim stay on investigation into bribery case against employees of L&T, Cognizant, govt officials
Mumbai: The Bombay high court recently lifted an interim stay it had granted on a corruption investigation against employees of Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T),Cognizant Technology Solutions, and government officials, observing that the complaint was not filed against the infrastructure company but against its employees. Bombay High Court (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) A division bench of justices AS Gadkari and Rajesh Patil said in its July 23 order that L&T had not been arraigned as an accused in the case by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Pune. Following the directions of a sessions court in April 2024, the ACB had registered an offence against officials of L&T, Cognizant and unknown government officials in an alleged $770,000 bribery case. The case pertains to allegations that IT consultancy Cognizant, through its contractor L&T, had paid bribes worth $770,000 to government officials between 2013 and 2014 to obtain clearances to build a campus in Pune's Hinjawadi. The case was registered based on a March 2024 complaint filed by Delhi-based activist and retired police officer Prit Pal Singh, citing newspaper reports. The sessions court then directed the ACB to investigate Pal's allegations. However, L&T challenged the order in the Bombay high court. In May 2024, a different bench of the high court granted an interim stay on the investigation, citing a prima facie 'jurisdictional error' on the part of the sessions court, among other reasons. L&T had contended that Pal's allegations were 'vague, bogus and malafide', adding that they were based on 'hearsay evidence'. The infrastructure firm also said that it had undertaken the Cognizant project in 2011-12, but Pal had sought an investigation into the case after an 'abnormal delay' of over 10 years. However, senior counsel Ashutosh Kumbhakoni and advocate Manoj Badgujar, arguing for Pal, told the court that L&T had not been arraigned as an accused in the case and, hence, its petition seeking the quashing of the FIR was not maintainable. Representing L&T, senior counsel Amit Desai told the court that they were also seeking the quashing of the April 2024 sessions court order directing an investigation into Pal's complaint. On July 23, a division bench of justices Gadkari and Patil directed the investigation of the crime to continue until the next hearing. '...however, in the event the investigating agency intends to implead the petitioner (L&T) as an accused in the final report, it shall not file the said report qua the petitioner without prior leave of this court,' it said. The case will be heard further on August 20. When contacted, an L&T spokesperson said, 'We will not be able to comment this time.' A spokesperson for Cognizant said, 'We have no comments to offer. Cognizant is committed to complying with the law in all its jurisdictions of operations and will cooperate with the local authorities, as appropriate.'
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Vantara to set up elephant rehab facility in Kolhapur
Mumbai: Days after the court-ordered relocation of a 36-year-old arthritic elephant from a Jain shrine in Kolhapur to Vantara in Gujarat ignited a public outcry and protests, the Jamnagar-based animal rescue and conservation centre on Wednesday expressed regret over the matter and proposed to set up a satellite rehabilitation centre for the pachyderm at Nandani in Kolhapur district. Vantara to set up elephant rehab facility in Kolhapur Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who held a meeting with Vantara's chief executive officer, Vivaan Karani, on Wednesday, said the organisation has assured him that it would cooperate with the state government in the legal process to get the elephant, Mahadevi, back to Kolhapur. 'I had a detailed discussion in Mumbai with senior officials of the Vantara management. They have assured me that Vantara has decided to be a part of the petition that the Maharashtra government has resolved to file, seeking the safe return of the elephant Mahadevi to the Nandani Math. During the discussion, they informed me that they were only complying with the orders of the Supreme Court and had no intention of taking custody of Mahadevi on their own,' said Fadnavis on Wednesday. Later in the day, Vantara issued a statement saying it would extend full support to any application filed by the Jain shrine and the Maharashtra government before the court requesting Mahadevi's return to Kolhapur. 'Subject to the court's approval, Vantara will provide complete technical and veterinary assistance for her safe and dignified return,' the statement said. The centre managed by the Reliance Foundation also stressed that at no stage did it initiate or recommend the elephant's relocation, nor was there any intent to interfere with religious practice or sentiment. 'If our involvement, despite being carried out solely under court directions, has caused any distress to the Jain community or the people of Kolhapur, we express our sincere regret. Michhami Dukkadam—if any hurt was caused through thought, word, or deed, knowingly or unknowingly, we seek your forgiveness,' the statement added. Vantara also proposed to set up a satellite rehabilitation centre for Mahadevi, also known as Madhuri, in the Nandani area of Kolhapur, where the Jain shrine is located. The proposed facility will be developed in accordance with established animal welfare guidelines after consulting with experts and the consensus of the shrine, while aligned to international best practices in elephant care, the statement said. According to Vantara, the proposed elephant rehab centre at Nandani will include a specialised hydrotherapy pond for joint and muscular relief, a larger water body for swimming and natural movement, a laser therapy and treatment room for physical rehabilitation, a covered night shelter for rest and protection, a lush open-space habitat for unrestricted movement without chains, a sand pit for environmental enrichment and natural behaviours, a fully equipped veterinary clinic for 24x7 medical care, a rubberised flooring platform for safe and comfortable resting, carefully formed mounds of soft sand to support sloped resting positions, which would aide Mahadevi's recovery from foot rot and relieve pressure from arthritis. The land for the proposed facility will be identified in consultation with the Jain shrine and the Maharashtra government. Upon receiving the necessary grants and permissions, Vantara's team will begin the implementation in close coordination with relevant authorities, the organisation said. 'This proposal is not intended for any credit or recognition of Vantara. We remain fully open and respectful to any alternative proposal the Jain Matha may wish to put forward, in accordance with the final directions of the honourable court,' the statement said. After the meeting with Fadnavis, Vanatara's Karani went to Kolhapur to meet the chief of the Jain shrine, Jinsen Bhattarak Mahaswami, who expressed his satisfaction with the proposal. 'I welcome the approach of [Reliance Foundation director] Anant Ambani and give my blessing to him for returning Mahadevi and providing rehabilitation services at Nandani with the support of Vantara. After a legal process with the help of the Maharashtra government, Vantara and the forest department, Mahadevi will come back to Nandani,' he said. Congress MLC Satej Patil, who participated in the protest demanding Mahadevi's return to Nandani, welcomed the outcome of the meeting between the chief minister and Vantara, saying it was a victory of the unity of Kolhapur's people. 'I wholeheartedly welcome the decision of the Vantara management to rehabilitate Mahadevi, the elephant, in Kolhapur after the due legal process. Heartfelt thanks for everyone's support and to team Vantara,' he said. Mahadevi was with the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswamy Sanstha at Nandani for over three decades. On July 16, the Bombay high court ordered her relocation to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar, managed by Vantara, after animal welfare organisations such as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) underlined her poor health and argued that she was not getting proper care at the shrine. The shrine challenged the order, but the Supreme Court on July 25 upheld it, after which the elephant was moved from Nandani to the Jamnagar facility. Following Mahadevi's relocation, thousands of people in Kolhapur participated in protests demanding her return to the shrine.
