Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The cargo ship Rubymar, which fell victim to an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on February 18 in the southern Red Sea, has now sunk, as confirmed by a statement from Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Officials reported on Saturday that the Rubymar, after days of battling water influx, has succumbed to the depths of the Red Sea, marking the first complete destruction of a vessel in the ongoing conflict surrounding Israel’s actions against Hamas in Gaza.
The Rubymar, since the attack in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, had been adrift northward, posing concerns for maritime security in the vital waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Both Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a regional military source verified the ship’s sinking. The source, requesting anonymity as the information had not been officially disseminated, disclosed the Rubymar’s fate. Efforts to reach the vessel’s Beirut-based management for comment were futile.
The Yemeni government-in-exile, supported by a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, revealed that the Rubymar’s demise occurred late Friday amidst adverse weather conditions prevailing over the Red Sea. Despite intentions to tow the vessel to safety, it remained abandoned for 12 days following the attack.
Although the Iran-backed Houthi insurgents had initially claimed the Rubymar’s immediate sinking after the assault, they have yet to acknowledge the ship’s eventual submersion.
Key Points Of this News
The cargo ship Rubymar was targeted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on February 18 in the southern Red Sea.
After days of taking on water, the Rubymar has sunk.
This sinking marks the first complete destruction of a vessel in the conflict surrounding Israel’s actions against Hamas in Gaza.
The Rubymar had been adrift northward since the attack in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a regional military source confirmed the sinking of the Rubymar.
Efforts to tow the vessel to safety had been planned but were unsuccessful.
The Iran-backed Houthi insurgents initially claimed the Rubymar sank immediately after the attack but have not acknowledged its eventual sinking.
