The Red Sea has become a perilous route for commercial shipping, as recent drone attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants target vessels with alarming frequency. This Monday, a Greek-managed bulk carrier was assailed, leaving two crew members wounded and two reported missing.

The incident occurred 50 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port city of Hodeidah and marks the Houthis' second assault on merchant vessels in the strategically critical shipping corridor since November 2024. An official from the European Union's Operation Aspides, tasked with safeguarding Red Sea shipping, confirmed the rising dangers.

The attacked ship, the Liberia-flagged Eternity C, was carrying a crew of 22—consisting of 21 Filipinos and one Russian—when it was besieged by sea drones and armed skiffs. The manager of the vessel, Cosmoship Management, reported significant damage, particularly to the ship's bridge and telecommunications systems.

Amid the chaos, the crew managed to stay afloat, despite the relentless barrage involving at least four rocket-propelled grenades from attackers on speedboats. Intriguingly, the vessel had not requested naval protection, raising questions about its safety measures.

Earlier that weekend, Houthis boasted about a successful strike on another Greek-operated bulk carrier, the MV Magic Seas, employing gunfire, missiles, and uncrewed surface vessels in a concerted assault. The 19 crew members on Magic Seas were forced to abandon ship as it began to take on water, ultimately being rescued by nearby vessels and arriving safely in Djibouti.

Despite Houthi claims of sinking the Magic Seas, its commercial managers have stated that no independent verification has corroborated this assertion. Compounding the incident, the crew reported fires and flooding throughout the vessel, which raised alarms about potential explosions in the vicinity.

The turbulence in the region has intensified since the onset of Israel's conflict with Hamas in October 2023. In an apparent show of solidarity with the Palestinians, Houthis have escalated attacks on both Israel and shipping in the Red Sea. This has drawn retaliatory strikes from Israel, which seem to exacerbate an already volatile situation.

The Magic Seas was reportedly carrying iron and fertilizers from China to Turkey—cargo that should have posed minimal risk. Yet, maritime analysts reveal that previous calls to Israeli ports may have put the ship in the crosshairs of Houthi aggression.

John Xylas, chair of the dry bulk shipping association Intercargo, condemned the violence, emphasizing that the innocent crew members are merely fulfilling their roles in global trade. "No one at sea should ever face such violence," he stated firmly.

As tensions intensify in the Red Sea, commercial operators must brace for escalating operational risks amid this increasingly dangerous landscape.