On March 2, the Yemeni government announced that the British cargo ship Rubymar, which was abandoned in the southern Red Sea after being attacked by Houthi forces in Yemen on February 18, had sunk.
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| The Houthis attacked the British cargo ship Rubymar on February 18 and the ship sank on March 2. (Source: The National) |
Previously, the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on February 24 that the Houthi attack on the British cargo ship Rubymar on February 18 caused severe damage to the ship and led to an oil slick more than 29 km long.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea also admitted that the force had attacked the Rubymar in the Gulf of Aden and that the ship was in danger of sinking. The Rubymar was transporting more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked.
The Rubymar was attacked while en route from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Bulgaria on February 18, after which the crew decided to abandon the ship in the southern Red Sea.
The ship is registered in the UK and operated by a Lebanese company. Earlier reports said the crew on the Rubymar were evacuated to another ship and brought safely to Djibouti.
Experts say failure to salvage the Rubymar could lead to an environmental disaster as the cargo of more than 20,000 tonnes of fertilizer could damage the area's ecosystem.
Houthi forces in Yemen have carried out numerous drone and missile attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandeb Strait.
Houthi attacks on the route, which accounts for about 12% of international shipping traffic, have increased significantly since the conflict broke out in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
The Houthis have vowed to continue attacks on shipping as long as Israel carries out its military campaign against Palestinians in Gaza.
The US and UK have repeatedly launched counter-operations, attacking Houthi positions with radars, anti-ship missiles, suicide boats and UAVs, but have not been able to stop this force from continuing to attack cargo ships in the Red Sea.
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