British-Registered Cargo Ship Abandoned by Crew off Yemen Following Houthi Attack

The crew of a British-registered cargo ship, flying a Belize flag, abandoned their vessel off the coast of Yemen after it was struck by missiles launched by the Houthi movement. The Rubymar was in the Gulf of Aden, approaching the Bab al-Mandab Strait when it was hit. A Houthi military spokesperson claimed the ship suffered “catastrophic damage” and was at risk of sinking. UK maritime authorities confirmed the crew had been evacuated following an explosion. This attack is one of the most damaging yet by the Iran-backed Houthis, indicating that Western efforts to deter them have not been successful. The Houthis have launched numerous missiles and drones at merchant vessels and Western warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since mid-November, leading many shipping companies to avoid this critical waterway. In response, US and British forces began airstrikes on Houthi-controlled western Yemen last month. The Rubymar was travelling from Saudi Arabia to Bulgaria when it was hit by two missiles. The ship’s owner is Golden Adventure Shipping, based in Southampton, UK.