Rubymar cargo ship attacked by Houthi rebels sinks in the Red Sea
By Associated Press
Published March 2, 2024, 6:56 a.m. ET
A ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has sunk in the Red Sea after days of taking on water, officials said Saturday, the first vessel to be fully destroyed as part of their campaign over Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Background
The Rubymar cargo ship had been drifting northward after being attacked on Feb. 18 in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial waterway linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Yemen’s exiled government, which has been backed by a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, said the Rubymar sank late Friday as stormy weather took hold over the Red Sea. Prior to the sinking, the vessel had been abandoned for 12 days after the attack, with plans to tow it to a safe port.
Implications
The sinking of the Rubymar marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Israel. It showcases the rebels’ willingness to target and destroy commercial vessels as part of their campaign. It remains to be seen how this event will affect shipping routes and the wider geopolitical implications for the region.
The Iran-backed Houthis, who had previously claimed that the ship sank almost instantly after the attack, did not immediately acknowledge the ship’s sinking.
In Summary
The Rubymar cargo ship, which had been attacked by Houthi rebels in Yemen, has sunk in the Red Sea after days of taking on water. The vessel had been drifting since the attack and was abandoned for 12 days before finally sinking due to stormy weather. This event indicates the rebels’ willingness to destroy commercial vessels and raises concerns about the safety of shipping routes.
Yemen’s exiled government has confirmed the sinking of the Rubymar and the Houthis, who claimed responsibility for the attack, have not yet acknowledged the ship’s sinking.
Conclusion
The sinking of the Rubymar cargo ship in the Red Sea serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the risks faced by commercial vessels in the region. It poses important questions about the safety and security of shipping routes, and the wider implications for regional geopolitics.
It remains to be seen how this event will affect the situation in Yemen and the ongoing conflict between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition. The international community is likely to pay close attention to the fallout of this incident and the potential impact on regional stability.
