A cargo ship attacked by militants in the Red Sea began to sink: something new

The Houthis claimed one of their biggest strikes since they began firing missiles at ships in the Red Sea after two of their missiles hit a Belize-flagged cargo ship.

Yemeni rebels claim the ship is in danger of sinking, which if confirmed would be a significant propaganda victory for the Houthis, The Guardian writes.

The security firm for the Rubymar, which was sailing from the United Arab Emirates to Bulgaria, said the crew was safely evacuated, but did not confirm the sinking. Security company LSS-SAPU said the ship hit its stern on Sunday, although there was nothing flammable on board.

“We are not sure about the condition of the vessel. There is no one on board right now, the spokesman said. “Owners and managers are considering towing options.”

The ship was shot down 93 miles east of Aden after the Houthis said they shot down a US drone over the port of Hodeidah.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari said in a televised statement on Monday that Rubimar suffered “catastrophic damage and completely stopped” after becoming the target of a military operation.

He added: “As a result of the extensive damage sustained by the vessel, there is now a risk of potential sinking in the Gulf of Aden. During the operation, we made sure that the ship’s crew left the ship safely.”

Separately on Monday, security firm Ambrey said another ship, a US-owned, Greek-flagged cargo ship, had requested military assistance, citing a “missile attack.” The UK Maritime Organization also confirmed the incident 100 nautical miles (185 km) off Aden in Yemen, with both sources saying the ship’s crew were safe.

The attacks came three days after the US classified the Houthis as a terrorist organization, and on the day the EU was set to launch its own naval defense operation in the region, The Guardian notes. The EU operation, called Aspides, which means “shield” in ancient Greek, involves three frigates and will initially last a year. EU frigates under Italian command are arriving from Italy, Germany and Belgium.

British sources do not expect the UK campaign against Houthi rocket launchers to have a short-term impact, but say it is gradually reducing the Houthis’ ability to operate.

The European operation does not involve attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen, but purely defensive operations, The Guardian claims.

The Houthis say they carry out the attacks in solidarity with the people of Gaza and target ships belonging to Israel or vessels linked to the US and UK.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s attempt to enlist the active support of China during his meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Munich did not bear fruit, The Guardian admits. Britain says China is a key user of Red Sea shipping lanes and it hopes Beijing will pressure Tehran to force the Houthis to stop.

There are signs Iran has ordered some of its proxy groups in Iraq to hold back, but relations between the Houthis and Iranians are more volatile, The Guardian said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also discussed the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea at a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday.

Indian exporters have complained that shipping costs to Europe, the US east coast, North Africa and parts of the Middle East have risen significantly as shipping companies not only charge more for a longer route but also charge a lot of insurance premiums. Although this has not yet affected export figures as old orders are being fulfilled, if the conflict continues, the situation could worsen.

Total weekly toll revenues on the Suez Canal have fallen 40% since the end of November to $28 million, according to shipping management company Veson Nautical.

Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters in retaliation for Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip. They often attacked ships with weak or no clear ties to Israel, jeopardizing shipping along a key trade route between Asia, the Middle East and Europe, The Guardian notes.

The attacks prompted several companies to halt Red Sea voyages and opt for the longer, more expensive route around Africa. American and British warplanes carried out retaliatory strikes on Yemeni territory.