A ship attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Rubymar, has sunk in the Red Sea after days of taking on water, officials confirmed on Saturday. This marks the first vessel to be fully destroyed as part of the Houthi campaign over Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The sinking of the Rubymar has impacted shipping through the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key waterway for cargo and energy shipments moving between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Many ships have already altered their routes due to the Houthi attacks, and the sinking of the Rubymar could lead to further detours and increased insurance rates for vessels navigating the waterway. This could potentially drive up global inflation and affect aid shipments to the region.
The Belize-flagged Rubymar was struck by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on February 18 and had been drifting northward in the Red Sea. The ship eventually sank late Friday after being abandoned for 12 days following the attack. Plans were in place to tow the vessel to a safe port, but stormy weather hindered these efforts.
The U.S. military's Central Command had warned of potential ecological damage from the ship's cargo of fertilizer and leaking fuel. The sinking of the Rubymar has been described as an 'unprecedented environmental disaster' by Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak.
The Iran-backed Houthis, who initially claimed the ship sank almost instantly after the attack, have not yet acknowledged the sinking. The rebels have been targeting ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters in response to Israel's conflict with Hamas, with the Rubymar being the latest casualty.
Despite ongoing U.S.-led airstrikes, the Houthis have continued launching significant attacks, including the downing of an American drone. The rebels have vowed to persist with their attacks until Israel ceases its combat operations in Gaza, a stance that has garnered international attention.
While there has been a recent slowdown in attacks, the reason for this decrease remains unclear. The situation in the region continues to evolve as maritime security concerns grow amidst the escalating conflict.
