A commercial cargo ship was met with danger on Sunday as it was attacked by Houthi terrorists in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the coast of Yemen. The incident, which took place 35 nautical miles south of Al Mukha, left the ship, named M/V Rubymar, damaged and forced its crew to abandon it. The ship, flying the Belize flag, was reportedly carrying cargo, although the type of cargo was not immediately known.
According to initial reports by British maritime authorities, an explosion occurred near the M/V Rubymar, causing damage to the vessel. Subsequent updates revealed that the crew was forced to evacuate due to a fire on board. Military officials were quick to respond to the situation and provided assistance to the stranded crew members.
Private security firm Ambrey, in charge of monitoring the global maritime market and providing intelligence and risk analysis, confirmed the news and provided more details regarding the incident. Their report stated that the ship was only partially laden with cargo, although the exact nature of the cargo was not specified.
UKMTO WARNING UPDATE 003
ATTACKhttps://t.co/qlApy9q9pq#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/1YY5GI4tJJ
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) February 19, 2024
Reports also indicated that the M/V Rubymar turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) upon entering the region, making it harder for the terrorists and their alleged allies, Iran, to locate and target the vessel. This maneuver is often used by ships in danger to avoid further attack or threat.
In response to the attack, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement confirming its involvement in the situation. According to the statement, U.S. forces conducted five self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. This is the first observed use of a UUV by the Houthis since their attacks began in October 2018.
Feb. 17 Summary of Red Sea activities
TAMPA, Fla. – Between the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Sanaa time), Feb. 17, CENTCOM successfully conducted five self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned… pic.twitter.com/TwR9RUmMMu
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 18, 2024
CENTCOM also stated that the identified anti-ship cruise missiles, UUV, and USV presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and other merchant vessels in the region. The U.S. and their allies have launched multiple strikes against the Houthis in an effort to degrade their capabilities and deter them from carrying out future attacks. However, this attack, which has occurred over a span of four months, shows that their efforts have been unsuccessful in preventing the group from disrupting global trade in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, a Shia Islamist political and armed movement, have been fighting against the Yemeni government since 2015, with Iran being accused of supplying weapons and providing support to the group. The conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with thousands of civilians killed and millions displaced. The Houthis have also targeted commercial shipping in the region in the past, which has raised concerns about the safety of maritime trade in the area.
As investigations and operations continue in response to this latest attack, concerns remain about the safety of global trade in the Red Sea and the role of Iran in supporting the Houthis. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and taking measures to ensure the security of the region’s waters. Meanwhile, efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Yemen are ongoing. The attack on the M/V Rubymar serves as a reminder of the need for continued efforts to bring stability and peace to the region.
Feb. 17 Summary of Red Sea activities
TAMPA, Fla. – Between the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Sanaa time), Feb. 17, CENTCOM successfully conducted five self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned… pic.twitter.com/TwR9RUmMMu
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 18, 2024
