A British cargo ship carrying fertilizer sank Friday after being attacked by Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, the Wall Street Journal reported, potentially causing an environmental disaster in the region. Ta.
The Rubimaa was attacked by Houthi anti-ship missiles on February 18, but remained afloat for several days, until the 24 crew members were rescued by British authorities. according to In WSJ. The ship ultimately sank with 22,000 tonnes of fertilizer originally bound for Bulgaria, raising concerns about the impact on marine life in the Red Sea and surrounding areas. (Related: US military announces Houthi attack ship carrying aid to Yemen)
Attempts to clean up the affected areas are likely to be difficult as the Houthis continue to target ships, the WSJ said.
“When you're threatened by a missile, there's no one to help you,” Ami Daniel, CEO of maritime artificial intelligence provider Windward, told the Journal.
Photo of the day: Houthi “handy” jobs.
The MV Rubima, a bulk carrier transporting fertilizer, was attacked by Yemeni militia on February 18th. Half-submerged, she was abandoned and is now adrift near the southern entrance of the Red Sea. pic.twitter.com/Uzhm7QtK2A
— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) February 29, 2024
Yemen's internationally recognized Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak said the sinking was an “unprecedented environmental disaster,” and Greenpeace said the ammonium nitrate in fertilizer was “an unprecedented environmental disaster.” It was argued that this could have a serious impact on the marine ecosystem. according to To the BBC.
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, one of the Houthi leaders, said: Posted On Friday, X, formerly known as Twitter, criticized Britain for not acquiescing to demands to bring aid to Gaza in exchange for towing the ship.
“We reiterate that the offer to tow the ship in exchange for bringing in relief trucks for the besieged people stands…We hold the UK accountable for all consequences. ” wrote Ali Al Houthi.
According to the BBC, it is the first ship to sink since the Iranian-backed Houthis began a blockade of the Red Sea in November. The militants have attacked more than 60 ships since the operation began, most recently in late February when they attacked a U.S.-flagged vessel en route to Yemen with humanitarian aid, but did not cause any major damage.
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