A ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels sinks in Red Sea, the first ship destroyed in conflict

The sinking was confirmed by Yemen and the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center. The rebels haven't said anything about it.

Digital Desk: A ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels sank in the Red Sea after it started taking in water. This is the first ship fully destroyed in their fight linked to Israel's issues with Hamas. The ship got hit by a missile on February 18 on a critical water route. 

The alliance led by Saudi Arabia has supported Yemen's exiled government since 2015. According to the administration, the Rubymar sank late on Friday as bad weather moved into the Red Sea. After the attack, the ship had been abandoned for twelve days, despite preparations to attempt towing it to a secure harbor.

The sinking was confirmed by Yemen and the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center. The rebels haven't said anything about it. The U.S. military warned before that the ship's cargo and leaking fuel could harm the environment.

Yemen Prime Minister Ahmed A. BinMubarak called it a big environmental disaster. The rebels took over Yemen's capital in 2014, leading to a war since 2015. The sinking makes things worse, adding to the problems in that region. He said on X, “Every day, we pay for the Houthi militia’s adventures, which were not stopped at plunging Yemen into the coup disaster and war.”

Other ships are avoiding the way, and this might increase insurance costs and raise prices worldwide. It could also affect sending help to that area, AP News reports.