Houthi Rebels Damage Ship in Missile Attack, Crew Abandons Vessel
In a recent incident that highlights the ongoing conflict in Yemen, Houthi rebels have carried out a missile attack on a Belize-flagged ship traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The strait connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and is a crucial route for international shipping. The attack has forced the crew to abandon the vessel, marking another escalation in the conflict.
The ship targeted in the attack reported sustaining damage after an explosion near the vessel. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed that the crew had abandoned the ship and that they were safe. However, there is no independent confirmation regarding whether the vessel sank, as claimed by Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree.
The ship in question is the Rubymar, a British-registered and Lebanese-operated cargo ship. It was on its way to Bulgaria after departing from Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates. The ship was partially laden with cargo, although it is unclear what it was carrying. Interestingly, the ship had turned off its Automatic Identification System tracker while in the Persian Gulf earlier this month, raising questions about its activities.
This is not the first time that Houthi rebels have targeted ships in the region. Since November, they have repeatedly attacked vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. These attacks are believed to be in response to Israel’s war targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, many of the targeted ships have had tenuous or no clear links to Israel, posing a threat to trade routes between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
In addition to the ship attack, the Houthi rebels also claimed to have shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. While U.S. forces in the region did not immediately acknowledge the incident, it is worth noting that the Houthis have downed U.S. drones in the past. The rebels have surface-to-air missile systems capable of shooting down high-flying American drones, and the U.S. military has lost four drones to shootdowns by the rebels since 2014.
In response to these developments, the U.S. military has conducted new airstrikes targeting the Houthi rebels. These strikes have focused on destroying Houthi military equipment, including mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, an explosive-carrying drone boat, and an unmanned underwater vessel. The latter is particularly significant as it marks the first observed use of a UUV by the Houthis since the attacks began in October.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen continues to pose a threat to international shipping and regional stability. The Houthi rebels’ actions have disrupted trade routes and endangered the lives of seafarers. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and whether there will be any diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. In the meantime, the safety of ships and crews navigating these waters remains a top priority.