First Vessel Fully Destroyed in Campaign
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – A cargo ship, the Rubymar, attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, has sunk in the Red Sea after days of taking on water. This incident marks the first vessel to be completely destroyed amidst the ongoing campaign over Israel’s actions against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Details of the Incident
The Rubymar was left adrift after the attack on February 18 in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a regional military official have confirmed the ship’s sinking. The Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, British-registered, and Lebanese-operated cargo ship transporting combustible fertilizer, was damaged in a missile strike on February 25 attributed to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Confirmation and Reactions
The Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, reported that the Rubymar sank amidst stormy weather on Friday. Despite plans to tow the vessel to safety, it had been abandoned for twelve days post-attack. The Houthi rebels, who initially claimed the ship sank immediately after the strike, have not yet acknowledged the sinking of the Rubymar. The Beirut-based manager of the Rubymar was unavailable for immediate comment.