The United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations Agency (UKMTO) reported Monday that the Houthis sunk a ship traveling in the Red Sea, south of the port city of Mukha in Yemen. It is the first time since the start of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza that a crew had to abandon their ship because of the Houthis.
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Initial reports stated that there were no casualties in the incident, and military officials who were in the area provided the crew with assistance. A report by the Al-Jazeera network, which is based on a source in the field of shipping in Yemen, stated that Ansar Allah forces, or the Houthis in Yemen, attacked a British ship near Bab al-Mandab. The source added that the ship was significantly damaged, which caused it to stop in the water, and that the crew called for help.
After the initial reports, the spokesman of the Houthi army, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the incident. According to him, the Houthi forces attacked the British ship Rubymar in the Gulf of Adenwith several missiles. According to him, the ship was badly damaged, its crew got out safely and it is in danger of sinking. Sky News in Arabic reported that the ship had sunk.
Sources gave the Lebanese al-Mayadeen channel, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, more details about the events. According to them, the ship was carrying ammonia and, after it was attacked, attempts were made to save it, but it caught fire and began to sink. The sources said that the ship "was attacked with a precise and new weapon that has not been revealed until now."
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Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree takes credit for sinking UK ship
(Photo: MOHAMMED HUWAIS / AFPB)
The Houthis, who are supported by Iran, have been boasting for many weeks about their ability to attack "Israeli" ships or those that are sailing to Israel, as part of their support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In every official statement they say that their attacks will continue until "the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip stops, and medicine and food enter the Strip." With the entry of the international coalition to fight against Yemen, the Houthis announced that American and British targets in the Red Sea also were legitimate targets.