Houthi Attack on Cargo Ship; 'Rubimar' May Be 'Sinking'

On Monday, Houthi militants claimed responsibility for the attack on the cargo ship 'Rubimar', stating that the vessel is at risk of sinking. According to Yahya Saree, the spokesman for the Houthis, the crew of the ship is safe. He also claimed that the Houthis shot down an American drone in the port of Hodeidah. The maritime security company for the ship, LSS-Sapo, told Reuters on Monday that 'Rubimar' was hit by two missiles, all crew members were safely evacuated, the ship is sinking, and the managers and owners are considering towing options. Although no ship has sunk and no crew member has lost their life since the start of Houthi attacks on vessels passing through the Red Sea, there are increasing concerns about this issue. The British maritime security company 'Ambrey' reported that the cargo ship 'Rubimar', flying the Belize flag, registered in the UK, and operated by Lebanon, was attacked on Sunday in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and its crew was evacuated. In a second attack by the Houthis within just a few hours, this Iranian-backed proxy group launched two missile attacks on a Greek-flagged ship owned by the United States on Monday. Reuters, citing the Greek Ministry of Shipping, added that the attack did not result in casualties and only a window of the ship was damaged. The vessel was carrying grain from Argentina to the port of Aden, and five of its 23 crew members are Greek. In this context, shipping industry associations on Monday called for the immediate release of 25 crew members of the hijacked ship 'Galaxy Leader', taken hostage by the Houthis since November 19. Meanwhile, Saad al-Kaabi, CEO of Qatar Energy, stated on Monday that disruptions in shipping in the Red Sea, while affecting the delivery of liquefied natural gas from the company, will not halt production. Qatar Energy, one of the largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, announced a month ago that it had suspended shipping in the Red Sea for security reasons. Iranian-backed Houthi forces have targeted international commercial vessels in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab al-Mandab Strait since November, claiming to support Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. These attacks have prompted several shipping companies to halt passage through the Red Sea and opt for the longer and more expensive route around the African continent. In response to Houthi actions, American and British fighter jets have conducted retaliatory strikes across Yemen. Earlier, the U.S. mission to the United Nations stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran 'cannot deny its role in enabling [the Houthis] to carry out attacks [on ships] and supporting' them. The statement noted that since 2014, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has provided advanced weapons to the Houthis, which they have used to attack commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. has for the first time destroyed an Iranian-backed Houthi 'unmanned underwater vehicle'. Exclusive: The United States has targeted two Iranian spy ships with a cyber attack. CENTCOM reported the destruction of the militants' weapons; Houthi missile attacks in the Red Sea continue. The U.S. has again placed Iranian-backed Houthis on the list of 'global terrorists'. A senior U.S. commander in the Middle East stated that the Revolutionary Guard operates 'shoulder to shoulder with the Houthis' in Yemen. The U.S. response to the Islamic Republic and its proxies continues; a cyber attack on the spy ship Behsad. The consequences of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea; Arabs and Israel are creating an 'alternative land corridor'. A cargo vessel was targeted in waters near Yemen. The seizure of a ship carrying Iranian weapons for the Houthis; CENTCOM attacked Houthi positions. The struggle over the Houthis; Russia and China clashed with the U.S. and the U.K. in the Security Council. The ongoing threats from the Houthis have led Greek commercial ships to change their routes from the Red Sea. The U.S. has called for global pressure against the Islamic Republic to stop Houthi attacks.