British Ship Sunk by Houthi Rebels Poses Potential Environmental Catastrophe
The Yemeni government has confirmed that the Rubymar ship sank on Friday evening due to adverse sea weather conditions and strong winds. The ship, which had been abandoned for over 12 days, was carrying 41 thousand tons of fertilizer and posed a risk of an environmental disaster in Yemen’s territorial waters and the Red Sea.
The sinking of the Rubymar follows an attack by Houthi rebels on the British vessel, which was hit while heading towards Yemen’s Hanish Islands. The ship, carrying high amounts of ammonia and oil, started taking on water after being targeted by the rebels in support of the Palestinian people. The crew of the ship was safely evacuated following the attack, but concerns remain about a potential environmental catastrophe in the region.
Houthis, backed by Iran, have been targeting commercial ships off the coast of Yemen that they believe are linked to Israeli companies. These attacks, carried out with unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles, are seen as a response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. The Yemeni government has expressed disappointment over the lack of response to their calls to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of maritime traffic in the region.
