The sinking of the Rubymar, a ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, marks the first vessel to be fully destroyed in the rebel group’s campaign over Israel’s war against Hamas. The attack has raised concerns about shipping through the crucial waterway, impacting cargo and energy shipments moving from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. The sinking of the Rubymar could lead to further detours and higher insurance rates for vessels, potentially driving up global inflation and affecting aid shipments to the region.
The Belize-flagged Rubymar had been drifting northward after being struck by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on Feb. 18 in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Despite plans to tow the ship to a safe port, it eventually sank after taking on water for several days. The Houthi rebels, who had falsely claimed the ship sank almost instantly after the attack, did not immediately acknowledge the sinking.
The US military had warned of potential ecological damage due to the vessel’s cargo of fertilizer and fuel leaking into the Red Sea. The Houthi rebels have been targeting ships in the area since November as part of their campaign against Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip. The rebels have insisted that their attacks will continue until Israel ceases its combat operations, gaining international recognition for their actions. Despite a recent slowdown in attacks, the ongoing conflict in the region remains a cause for concern.
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