Houthis Attack Two Greek Ships, Kill Two, Escalate Red Sea Threat

Two Greek-operated, Liberia-flagged bulk carriers, the Eternity C and Magic Seas, were attacked in the Red Sea near Yemen’s Hodeidah coast in less than 24 hours by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, marking a sharp escalation in attacks on commercial shipping in this vital oil transit corridor. The Eternity C was targeted with sea drones, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms fire, resulting in two crew members seriously injured and two missing, while the Magic Seas was reportedly sunk after a similar assault. These attacks have raised fears of renewed conflict in the region, prompting a surge in Brent crude and WTI oil prices, and causing insurance premiums for vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait to increase significantly. The incidents follow Israeli airstrikes against Houthi positions in response to ballistic missile fire and coincide with reports that Israeli officials expect President Donald Trump to approve pre-emptive strikes on Iran's nuclear program if re-elected. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to discuss this with Trump during a private meeting, as Tehran has resumed centrifuge operations at key nuclear enrichment sites, heightening tensions further. The ongoing violence threatens to destabilize a crucial global shipping route and could draw in international military forces.