Yemen’s Ansar-Allah movement, often referred to in Western media as the “Houthis,” sank a commercial vessel in the Red Sea on Sunday, continuing a blockade campaign against Israel that began nearly 21 months ago.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO), the bulk carrier Black Magic was traveling northbound through the Red Sea when it came under attack by speedboats belonging to Ansar-Allah. The attackers reportedly fired small arms and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at the vessel, causing it to take on water and forcing the crew to abandon ship.
Sunday’s attack marks the third ship Ansar-Allah has sunk since it began enforcing a maritime blockade on Israeli-bound traffic on October 19, 2023, in response to the ongoing war in Gaza. The previous two vessels sunk were the Rubymar in March 2024 and the Tutor in June 2024. Additionally, the group seized the Galaxy Leader in November 2023.
The blockade has rendered Israel’s southern Port of Eilat effectively non-operational. The port, a critical node for Israel’s Red Sea trade, declared bankruptcy nearly a year ago as commercial traffic ground to a halt.
Despite sustained aerial campaigns by the United States against Yemen aimed at ending the blockade, Ansar-Allah has held firm. U.S. bombing campaigns were first launched under President Joe Biden in early 2024 and later continued by President Donald Trump between March 15 and May 6, 2025. According to estimates, these operations resulted in the loss of at least 22 MQ-9 Reaper drones and three F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets.
In May, the Trump administration announced the end of its bombing campaign without securing any concessions from Ansar-Allah. The group has continued both its blockade and sporadic missile attacks into Israeli territory.
In response to Sunday’s sinking, the Israeli Air Force launched retaliatory strikes against Yemen’s ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa, and Salif. Earlier the same day, Ansar-Allah fired another missile into Israel, though it was reportedly intercepted.