The International Maritime Organization (IMO) condemned the renewed Houthi attacks on container vessels in the Red Sea, calling them a serious threat to global shipping and maritime safety.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez ramped up calls for dialogue following recent attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea region.

"After several months of calm, the resumption of deplorable attacks in the Red Sea constitutes a renewed violation of international law and freedom of navigation. Innocent seafarers and local populations are the main victims of these attacks and the pollution they cause."

"Constructive dialogue is the solution to resolving ongoing geopolitical crises affecting seafarers and international shipping."

Yemen's Houthi rebels have resumed attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, marking a sharp escalation in a maritime campaign that began in late 2023.

In early July 2025, the group sank two cargo ships—Magic Seas and Eternity C—and killed several crew members, underscoring the vulnerability of global shipping lanes despite months of international military intervention.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, claim the attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Their operations have disrupted a trade corridor that handles US$1 trillion in annual commerce, forcing many vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.

The renewed violence threatens a fragile ceasefire with Washington and raises concerns about maritime security, regional stability, and the broader geopolitical fallout from the war in Gaza.