Rubymar, a cargo ship owned by the UK, was struck by missiles from Yemen's Houthis and subsequently sank in the Red Sea. The vessel, which had been carrying over 41,000 tonnes of fertilizer, began leaking oil after the attack on February 18 and finally succumbed to water intake, prompting concerns about environmental damage to the Red Sea and its coral reefs.

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Implications after the attack on a British fertilizer ship

The sinking of the Rubymar on Saturday raised alarms about potential ecological devastation in the Red Sea. The Belize-flagged ship, owned by the UK, had been leaking oil for days after being targeted by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The sinking, confirmed by Yemen's internationally recognised government, was attributed to adverse weather conditions and strong sea winds.

With approximately 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer aboard, the sinking Rubymar posed an environmental risk in the Red Sea, according to the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM). Additionally, there were concerns about potential subsurface impacts on other ships traversing the busy shipping lanes of the area.

The sinking of Rubymar marked the first loss of a vessel since the Houthis began targeting commercial shipping in November. The attack occurred while the ship was sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting the crew to abandon the vessel for safety.

Attitude from the Houthi side after the attack

The Houthis, claiming responsibility for the attack, cited their efforts to pressure nations like the UK, US, and Israel to end Israel's Gaza conflict. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, held UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his government responsible for the sinking, linking it to their perceived support for Gaza-related actions.

The Houthis, controlling Yemen's capital Sanaa since 2014, have been engaged in a protracted war with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. The sinking of Rubymar adds to the ongoing humanitarian and environmental crises in Yemen, according to Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, Yemen's prime minister.

Greenpeace echoed concerns about the environmental impact of Rubymar's sinking, warning of potential disruptions to marine ecosystems in the Red Sea. The attack on Rubymar has also disrupted international trade routes between Europe and Asia, compelling ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in extended travel times and increased distances.

The escalation of attacks in Yemen and subsequent military responses have heightened regional tensions, with fears of further destabilization in the Middle East.