US Army warns: Houthi strike sinks cargo ship, sparks environmental threat

A cargo ship carrying a large quantity of fertilizer has sunk in the Gulf of Aden, raising environmental concerns, following an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The vessel, known as the Rubymar and flagged under Belize, was operated by a Lebanese company and was transporting a type of combustible fertilizer. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the ship was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile from the Houthis on February 18, causing it to sink into the Red Sea.

CENTCOM highlighted the potential environmental dangers posed by the roughly 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer aboard the vessel. The sinking ship not only threatens the marine environment but also poses a risk to other vessels navigating the busy shipping lanes in the area. Yemen’s government confirmed the ship’s sinking earlier on the same day.

The attack has significantly impacted shipping through the Red Sea, with container traffic decreasing by about one-third in the first week of 2024 compared to the previous year. This decline is attributed to the increased avoidance of the Suez Canal by shipping companies due to Houthi attacks. The Rubymar was en route from the United Arab Emirates to Varna, Bulgaria, when it was struck by two missiles, leading to the crew’s evacuation.

The environmental threat of the sinking has been corroborated by satellite images from Maxar Technologies, showing fuel oil leakage from the vessel. Additionally, the TankerTrackers website warned of a potential “environmental catastrophe” in both Yemeni territorial waters and the wider Red Sea area.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of Houthi attacks on ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, in what the Houthis claim is a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. This comes in the wake of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza following an attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group on October 7.

In response to these maritime threats, the United States, Israel’s principal ally, established a multinational force in December to safeguard maritime traffic in this strategic region. Since January, the U.S. and its allies have conducted several strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, where the Iran-supported rebels have been in conflict with the government forces recognized internationally since 2014.