A UK-registered cargo ship is prone to sinking after being attacked by Houthis, the Yemeni group has mentioned.
The Rubymar sustained “catastrophic” injury after being hit by a missile on Sunday, army spokesperson brigadier basic Yahya Saree claimed.
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In a press release posted on X on Monday, he mentioned the ship “came to a complete halt” after the assault and its crew had been pressured to desert the vessel.
It had been travelling by means of the Bab al Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The spokesman mentioned: “During the operation, we made sure the ship’s crew exited safely.
“As a results of the intensive injury the ship suffered, it’s now prone to potential sinking.”
A UK government spokesperson said vessels from a coalition of Western ships were “already on the scene”
“HMS Richmond additionally continues to patrol within the Red Sea to assist defend industrial transport,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.”
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Meanwhile, defence secretary, Grant Shapps, advised the House of Commons on Tuesday he would make a judgment “based on the reality on the ground” when requested if extra Royal Navy ships must be despatched to the Red Sea.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman mentioned: “Clearly we condemn any attacks by the Houthis against commercial civilian ships.
“HMS Diamond and HMS Richmond proceed to patrol the Red Sea to assist defend industrial transport and, because the PM has mentioned, we is not going to hesitate to behave to guard freedom of navigation and lives at sea.”
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said the vessel, which it did not identify, was damaged by an explosion 35 nautical miles south of Yemen, forcing its crew to abandon ship.
The agency said the ship was damaged following “an explosion in shut proximity to the vessel” but that all crew were reported as “protected”.
British maritime safety agency Ambrey confirmed the Rubymar is a UK-registered, Belize-flagged and Lebanese-operated cargo ship, and mentioned it had been on its approach to Bulgaria after leaving Khorfakkan within the United Arab Emirates.
It is the newest in a string of assaults on transport in and across the Red Sea, which has brought on widespread disruption to commerce routes, forcing corporations to reroute to longer and dearer journeys round southern Africa.
The Houthis started launching strikes on transport final yr to place stress on Israel to cease its offensive in Gaza amid its warfare with Hamas.
Brigadier Saree reiterated on Monday that the Houthis’ assaults on ships “will not stop until the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted”.
The US and UK have carried out a number of air strikes in Yemen as a part of makes an attempt to stop assaults within the area.
Source: information.sky.com”