Current:Home > InvestA ship earlier hit by Yemen’s Houthi rebels sinks in the Red Sea, the first vessel lost in conflict -Capitatum
A ship earlier hit by Yemen’s Houthi rebels sinks in the Red Sea, the first vessel lost in conflict
PredictIQ View
Date:2025-04-07 05:23:17
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has sunk in the Red Sea after days of taking on water, officials said Saturday, the first vessel to be fully destroyed as part of their campaign over Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The sinking of the Rubymar comes as shipping through the crucial waterway for cargo and energy shipments moving from Asia and the Middle East to Europe has been affected by the Houthi attacks.
Already, many ships have turned away from the route. The sinking could see further detours and higher insurance rates put on vessels plying the waterway — 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, a crucial waterway linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government, as well as a regional military official, confirmed the ship sank. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as no authorization was given to speak to journalists about the incident.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which watches over Mideast waterways, separately acknowledged the Rubymar’s sinking Saturday afternoon.
The Rubymar’s Beirut-based manager could not be immediately reached for comment.
Yemen’s exiled government, which has been backed by a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, said the Rubymar sank late Friday as stormy weather took hold over the Red Sea. The vessel had been abandoned for 12 days after the attack, though plans had been made to try and tow the ship to a safe port.
The Iran-backed Houthis, who had falsely claimed the ship sank almost instantly after the attack, did not immediately acknowledge the ship’s sinking.
The U.S. military’s Central Command previously warned the vessel’s cargo of fertilizer, as well as fuel leaking from the ship, could cause ecological damage to the Red Sea.
Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, the prime minister of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, called the ship’s sinking “an unprecedented environmental disaster.”
“It’s a new disaster for our country and our people,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Every day, we pay for the Houthi militia’s adventures, which were not stopped at plunging Yemen into the coup disaster and war.”
The Houthis have held Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, since 2014, expelling the government. Its fought a Saudi-led coalition since 2015 in a stalemated war.
Satellite pictures analyzed by The Associated Press from Planet Labs PBC showed smaller boats alongside the Rubymar on Wednesday. It wasn’t immediately clear whose vessels those were. The images showed the Rubymar’s stern sinking into the Red Sea but still afloat, mirroring earlier video taken of the vessel.
The private security firm Ambrey separately reported Friday about a mysterious incident involving the Rubymar.
“A number of Yemenis were reportedly harmed during a security incident which took place” on Friday, Ambrey said. It did not elaborate on what that incident involved and no party involved in Yemen’s yearslong war claimed any new attack on the vessel.
A satellite image taken Friday from Maxar Technologies showed new blast damage on the Rubymar not previously seen, with no other vessels around it.
Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters over the Israel-Hamas war. Those vessels have included at least one with cargo bound for Iran, the Houthis’ main benefactor, and an aid ship later bound for Houthi-controlled territory.
Despite over a month of U.S.-led airstrikes, Houthi rebels remain capable of launching significant attacks. That includes the attack on the Rubymar and the downing of an American drone worth tens of millions of dollars. The Houthis insist their attacks will continue until Israel stops its combat operations in the Gaza Strip, which have enraged the wider Arab world and seen the Houthis gain international recognition.
However, there has been a slowdown in attacks in recent days. The reason for that remains unclear.
___
Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
veryGood! (157)
Related
- Jury finds man guilty of sending 17-year-old son to rob and kill rapper PnB Rock
- Far-right parties gain seats in European Parliament elections
- Survey: Christians favor Israel over Palestinians in Israel-Hamas war, but Catholic-Jewish relations hazy
- Brad Stevens has built Boston Celtics team capable of winning multiple NBA Finals
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Radio host Dan Patrick: 'I don't think Caitlin Clark is one of the 12 best players right now'
- Mexico councilwoman who backed Claudia Sheinbaum's party shot dead outside her home
- Why Bachelor's Joey Graziadei & Kelsey Anderson Have Been Living With 2 Roommates Since Show Ended
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Moleskin
Ranking
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Joe Jonas Enjoys Beach Day in Greece With Actress Laila Abdallah After Stormi Bree Breakup
- Too Hot to Handle’s Carly Lawrence Files for Divorce From Love Island Star Bennett Sipes
- Survey: Christians favor Israel over Palestinians in Israel-Hamas war, but Catholic-Jewish relations hazy
- Hidden Home Gems From Kohl's That Will Give Your Space a Stylish Refresh for Less
- Hayley Kiyoko Talks Self-Love, Pride, And Her Size-Inclusive Swimwear Collab With Kitty & Vibe
- Americans are split on Biden’s student loan work, even those with debt, new AP-NORC poll finds
- Older worker accuses defense contractor of discriminating by seeking recent college grads
Recommendation
Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
California socialite gets 15 to life for 2020 hit-and-run deaths of two young brothers
Oregon man who drugged daughter’s friends with insomnia medication at sleepover gets prison term
Naomi Campbell confirms she welcomed both of her children via surrogacy
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
It Ends With Us’ Justin Baldoni Is “On the Mend” After Being Hospitalized With Infection
Sen. John Fetterman and wife Giselle taken to hospital after car crash in Maryland
US Rep. Nancy Mace faces primary challenge in South Carolina after tumultuous term