A cargo ship, the Rubymar, sank two weeks after being targeted by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, according to Yemen’s government. The vessel had been adrift and taking on water for several days before its eventual sinking, marking the first such incident involving Iran-backed rebels in Yemen attacking ships in the Red Sea. Loaded with fertilizers, the sinking poses a significant environmental threat, potentially leading to a catastrophe.
Reportedly, the Rubymar was struck by two missiles fired by Houthi rebels while in the Gulf of Aden near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Initially, all 24 crew members were rescued ten days prior to the sinking, with the vessel observed partially submerged but afloat. Despite efforts to tow it to Djibouti, the ship’s owners couldn’t confirm its status as it was unmanned.
The Rubymar, flagged in Belize and operated by a Lebanese company, was transporting ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The sinking was described by Yemen’s prime minister as an unprecedented environmental disaster, drawing concerns from organizations like Greenpeace and the Marine Science department at the University of Jordan regarding its potential ecological impact.
A Houthi leader, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, implicated the UK government in the Rubymar’s sinking, linking it to aid to Gaza. The Houthis have been targeting ships associated with Israel since November in support of Palestinians in Gaza, prompting retaliatory strikes by the US and UK. Recent incidents reported by the UK Maritime Trade body include an attack on a vessel west of Yemen’s Mokha port and the sinking of another ship near the Rubymar’s last known location.
In response to escalating tensions, the US Central Command conducted a defensive strike against a Houthi missile launch in Yemen. Additionally, Italy’s defense ministry reported its naval ship intercepting a drone in the Red Sea. These attacks have led many shipping companies to avoid the Red Sea route, which handles a significant portion of global maritime trade. Despite ongoing coalition airstrikes, Houthi attacks persist, fueled by their demand for an end to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
