Red Sea erupts again: Houthis sink two ships, defy Trump truce — Will US strike back?

Dubai: Barely two months after Donald Trump proclaimed an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, the Iran-backed militants have sunk two cargo ships in as many days — killing at least four sailors and casting doubt on US claims of victory.

Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in May, Trump declared that the Houthis had “capitulated” after an intensive 52-day bombing campaign. “They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore,” he said. “We will honor that, and we will stop the bombings.”

But this week’s dramatic return of maritime violence — captured in slick propaganda videos — suggests otherwise.

On July 6, Houthi militants sank the Magic Seas, a Greek-owned vessel. A day later, they attacked the Eternity C, which eventually sank, leaving at least four crew members dead and others missing. It marked the group’s deadliest assault since November 2023, when their campaign in the Red Sea first surged in response to Israel’s war in Gaza.

The United States carried out more than 1,100 strikes, killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and spent more than $1 billion over the 52-day campaign, US officials told the New York Times.

But the U military was not able to gain air superiority over the durable militant group, and the Houthis were still shooting down American drones and firing at naval ships in the Red Sea 30 days into the war.

The renewed violence now threatens to pull the United States back into a conflict it had declared over — and exposes the limits of a strategy centred on airstrikes and assumed ceasefires.

“The United States has been clear: We will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
“These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to regional security.”

A campaign rekindled

Between November 2023 and December 2024, Houthi fighters targeted over 100 commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Until now, their last attack had been more than six months ago.

Their recent resurgence, military analysts say, is not merely a return to old tactics — it's a calculated flex of resilience and evolving strength. The group’s leader, Abdul Malik Al Houthi, vowed to continue attacks on Israel-linked vessels and has shown increasing independence from Iran, even as his backers faced devastating strikes from both Israel and the US.

“They’ve survived airstrikes, built new alliances, and learned to conceal their arsenal,” one analyst was quoted as saying by a British newspaper. “They’re harder to eliminate now than ever.”

The most brazen attacks so far

The renewed violence recalls some of the most dangerous maritime assaults in the past year:

• July 7, 2025 – Eternity C: Sunk after a two-day assault. Ten rescued. At least four dead, others missing. U.S. accuses Houthis of kidnapping crew members.

• July 6, 2025 – Magic Seas: First attack of 2025. Entire crew of 22 rescued. Houthi propaganda video shows RPGs and explosions ripping through the ship.

• June 2024 – Tutor: A Liberian-flagged ship sank after being hit. One Filipino sailor killed.

• March 2024 – True Confidence: A missile strike killed three and wounded four. First fatal attack in the campaign.

• Feb-Mar 2024 – Rubymar: Hit by missile; later sank carrying over 20,000 tonnes of fertilizer. Risked catastrophic environmental damage.

• Aug 2024 – Sounion: Oil tanker carrying 1 million barrels attacked. A near-disaster averted.

• Nov 2023 – Galaxy Leader: Hijacked by Houthis, turned into a propaganda exhibit for Yemeni tourists. Crew detained for over a year.

What’s next for US?

Trump’s earlier decision to call off airstrikes was based on what he described as a "very, very good source." But with shipping lanes again under fire, pressure is building for a military response.

The Biden administration, too, had struggled to contain the threat during its term. Trump’s aggressive return to airpower in April came after repeated provocations.

US officials, speaking anonymously, say options are now back “on the table” — from expanded strikes on radar and launch sites to naval escorts for merchant shipping. But they also admit that the Houthis' ability to adapt and survive may make lasting peace elusive.

“We’re in a game of whack-a-mole with a group that’s learned how to duck,” one Pentagon official was quoted as saying.

Despite claims of victory, the Red Sea remains a battlefield. The Houthis have reasserted their threat with chilling clarity — and the US may have little choice but to return fire.

Whether Washington resumes strikes or seeks another uneasy truce, one thing is clear: The era of safe passage through the Red Sea is far from restored.