Ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels sinks in Red Sea

Officials confirmed on Saturday that a ship previously targeted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has sunk in the Red Sea, marking the first vessel to be completely destroyed in their ongoing campaign related to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The vessel in question, the Rubymar, had been gradually taking on water since the initial attack on February 18th while drifting northward in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a strategic maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Both Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a regional military official affirmed the sinking of the Rubymar. The regional military source opted to remain anonymous, citing the lack of clearance for public disclosure regarding the matter.

Efforts to reach the Beirut-based manager of the Rubymar for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

Yemen’s exiled government, which has received support from a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, reported that the Rubymar sank late on Friday amidst inclement weather conditions in the Red Sea. Following the initial attack, the vessel had remained abandoned for a period of twelve days, with tentative plans discussed to salvage the ship and tow it to a secure port.

Despite earlier assertions by the Iran-backed Houthi faction claiming the Rubymar sank almost immediately following the attack, there has been no immediate acknowledgment from the group regarding the recent sinking of the vessel.