Houthi Attacks on Commercial Vessels Amount to War Crimes

Strategic Insights -

The Houthi armed group in Yemen has attacked two commercial cargo vessels in the Red Sea, resulting in the sinking of both ships and the deaths or injuries of several crew members. The attacks, which took place between July 6 and 9, 2025, are a clear violation of the laws of war and amount to war crimes. The Houthi forces responsible for the attacks deliberately targeted civilian ships, killing and injuring crew members, and appear to be holding six rescued crew members unlawfully.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Houthi armed group in Yemen attacked two commercial cargo vessels in the Red Sea between July 6 and 9, 2025, sinking both ships and killing or injuring several crew members.
  • The attacks are a clear violation of the laws of war and amount to war crimes, as the Houthi forces deliberately targeted civilian ships.
  • The Houthi forces appear to be holding six rescued crew members unlawfully, in violation of international law.
  • The attacks pose long-term environmental threats to the region, with large oil slicks threatening wildlife in a protected nature reserve on Eritrea's coast.
  • The sinking of the MV Rubymar, a Belize-flagged bulk carrier, in March 2024, resulted in a large loss of marine life due to the spill and pollution from hazardous chemical fertilizers.
  • The Houthi group has previously been found to be responsible for war crimes, including the attack on the Galaxy Leader, a British-linked and Japanese-operated vehicle carrier registered in the Bahamas.
  • Customary international humanitarian law provides that warring parties need to respect the protection and preservation of the natural environment, and that all feasible steps should be taken to minimize environmental harm.
  • The Houthi group's attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure in Israel, including Tel Aviv airport, and the Israeli attacks on essential infrastructure in Yemen, may also amount to war crimes.

Statistics:

  • 2 commercial cargo vessels were attacked by the Houthi group in the Red Sea between July 6 and 9, 2025.
  • 51 nautical miles southwest of the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah is where the MV Magic Seas was attacked.
  • 25 crew members of the Galaxy Leader were detained by the Houthi group for 14 months.
  • 11 crew members of the MV Eternity C are still unaccounted for, with 6 believed to be in Houthi custody.
  • 10 crew members of the MV Eternity C were rescued at sea on July 10, 2025.
  • Large oil slicks from the sunken ships have been seen washing ashore near a small fishing community in Eritrea.
  • 21,000 tons of hazardous chemical fertilizers were being carried on the MV Rubymar when it sank in March 2024.

Sources:

  • Human Rights Watch, "Houthi Attacks on Commercial Vessels in the Red Sea: War Crimes" (July 2025)
  • Reuters, "Houthi forces attack two commercial vessels in Red Sea" (July 2025)
  • PAX, "Houthi attacks on commercial vessels pose long-term environmental threat" (July 2025)
  • The 1994 San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea
  • United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)