A commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden was abandoned by its crew after an attack claimed by Houthi rebels of Yemen, authorities said, according to a media report.
The Belize-flagged, British-registered cargo ship, Rubymar, was reportedly at risk of sinking after being hit by missiles, as per a statement from a Houthi military spokesman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed that an unnamed ship was abandoned off Yemen after being damaged by a blast, while Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that the Rubymar was hit by two missiles.
The Iran-backed Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since mid-November, in what they claim to be a show of support for the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. These attacks have led many shipping companies to cease using the critical waterway, which accounts for about 12 per cent of global seaborne trade. In response, US and British forces have been carrying out air strikes on targets across Houthi-controlled western Yemen.
According to British maritime security firm Ambrey, a Belize-flagged, British-registered, and Lebanese-operated cargo ship came under attack in the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Sunday as it sailed northwards.
The attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea by the Houthi rebels have caused significant disruptions to global trade and have raised concerns about the safety of shipping in the region. With tensions escalating, the international community is closely monitoring the situation and taking measures to ensure the security of maritime activity in the area.
