British Freighter Attacked in Red Sea, Causes Oil Leakage and Pollution
On February 18th, the British freighter “Rubimar” was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi armed forces in the Red Sea, resulting in severe damage and an oil spill stretching approximately 30 kilometers. The U.S. Central Command confirmed the incident, stating that the cargo ship was carrying over 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a critical shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In recent months, the Houthi forces have targeted ships in the region as a show of support for Palestine amid the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The “Rubimar” is the most heavily damaged merchant vessel attacked by the Houthi forces in the Red Sea. The crew was forced to abandon ship and were rescued, with plans to tow the damaged vessel to Djibouti, across the strait from Yemen.
Following the incident, the Yemeni government has urged for swift action from other countries and marine conservation organizations to prevent further environmental harm from the oil spill. Tensions in the region have escalated, leading to disruptions in commercial shipping routes, with some companies opting to bypass the Suez Canal altogether.
The conflict in Yemen between the Houthi forces and the Saudi-led coalition has been ongoing since 2015. Despite previous attempts at peace agreements, the situation remains volatile. Efforts towards a resolution have been hampered by recent events in the region, further complicating efforts for peace.
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is closely monitoring developments in the Red Sea region and assessing the environmental impact of the oil spill caused by the attack on the “Rubimar” freighter.