A British cargo vessel has gone down in the Red Sea following an assault by Houthis supported by Iran. The crew of the cargo ship Rubymar had to evacuate the vessel following an attack off the coast of Yemen.
Shortly following the incident, which occurred just over two weeks ago, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) released a statement indicating: "UKMTO has been informed of an event 35NM south of Al Mukha, Yemen."
UK Cargo Ship Sinks in Red Sea
This picture taken on February 27, 2024 shows the Rubymar cargo ship sinking off the coast of Yemen. Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, British-registered and Lebanese-operated cargo ship carrying combustible fertilizer, was damaged in a missile strike on February 25 claimed by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels.
The military authorities have reported that the crew has abandoned the vessel. Military authorities are currently on-site offering support.
The government in exile of Yemen, supported by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia since 2015, reported that the Rubymar vessel sank on Friday due to severe weather conditions in the Red Sea. After the attack, the vessel had been left unattended for 12 days with discussions about towing it to a safe port, as per The Independent.
A statement was issued by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, claiming responsibility for the attack. According to the spokesman, the vessel was struck by "appropriate missiles" and was in danger of sinking.
He mentioned that the Yemeni Armed Forces' Naval forces conducted a targeted military operation, using naval missiles against the British ship Rubymar.
The terror group based in Yemen also stated that they had shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over al-Hudaydah shortly after the cargo ship attack.
US, UK Strike 36 Houthi Targets in Yemen
Meanwhile, the US and Britain have initiated a new round of attacks on 36 Houthi targets in Yemen. The recent series of attacks on 13 locations aim to disrupt Iran-backed groups that have targeted American and international interests following the Israel-Hamas conflict, as per US officials.
Launched by ships and fighter jets, the Saturday night strikes on Yemen follow a US air assault on targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday. The assault was aimed at other Tehran-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in response to the drone strike on Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three US troops last weekend.
The US conducted strikes on 10 Houthi targets using F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier and American warships launching Tomahawk missiles from the Red Sea, according to US officials. As per official sources, the USS Gravely and the USS Carney, two US navy destroyers, fired the missiles.
Britain's Ministry of Defense announced that RAF Typhoon FGR4s, along with Voyager tankers, participated in additional targeted attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen alongside US forces. Saturday's strikes represented the third instance of a significant, collaborative operation between the US and Britain to target Houthi weapon launchers, radar sites, and drones.
Washington had indicated that its reaction following the soldiers' deaths at the Tower 22 base in Jordan would not be confined to a single night, a single target, or a single group. However, the Houthis continue to carry out frequent missile and drone strikes on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, showing no signs of reducing their attacks.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized in a statement that the military action, backed by several countries, conveys a strong message to the Houthis regarding the repercussions of their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels. He emphasized the importance of protecting lives and ensuring the smooth operation of trade in a vital global waterway, Sky News reported.
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