Aden - On March 2, the U.S. military confirmed that a UK-owned vessel targeted by Houthi militants in the Red Sea last month has sunk. The ship, named Rubymar and registered in Belize, is the first casualty since the Houthis began attacking commercial ships in November. These attacks have compelled shipping companies to reroute vessels around southern Africa, disrupting global trade and increasing costs.
The sinking of Rubymar, laden with hazardous fertilizer, raises concerns about environmental damage and navigational hazards in the busy Red Sea shipping lanes. The Houthi attacks, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have prompted retaliatory strikes by the U.S. and UK, with other navies deploying vessels to safeguard the vital Suez Canal trade route.
The vessel went down late on Friday or early Saturday, following the significant damage it sustained in the February 18 missile attack, which also resulted in an oil slick. The ship was carrying approximately 21,000 metric tons of fertilizer, posing a threat to marine life in the Red Sea.
Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Yemen's foreign minister, condemned the incident as an environmental catastrophe, attributing it to the Houthi militia's actions. The internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, has been engaged in a protracted conflict with the Houthis since 2014.
The release of large quantities of fertilizer into the Red Sea endangers marine life by triggering eutrophication, a process characterized by excessive algae growth that depletes oxygen levels. Urgent measures are needed to monitor and mitigate the pollution's impact on the Red Sea ecosystem.
This incident adds to concerns about the region's stability, especially amid ongoing conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas war. Additionally, reports of further maritime incidents, including an attack near Yemen's port of Mokha and the interception of a drone by an Italian naval vessel, underscore the volatile situation in the Red Sea.
Meanwhile, the Houthi Transport Ministry alleged disruptions to undersea communication cables in the Red Sea due to actions by U.S. and British naval vessels, although details were not provided.