British RUBYMAR ship sinks in Red Sea, CENTCOM confirms
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The US CENCTOM says a British, Belizean-flagged ship has sunk in the Red Sea after it was hit by a Yemeni missile two weeks ago.
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MV Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier, is seen after sinking in the Red Sea in a photo released by CENTCOM on March 3, 2024 (CENTCOM via X)
The United States Central Command (CENCTOM) revealed Sunday that the British MV Rubymar has sunk in the Red Sea days after it was struck by a ballistic missile fired from Yemen.
CENTCOM issued a statement saying, "On Mar. 2 at approximately 2:15 a.m., MV Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier, sank in the Red Sea after being struck by [...] an anti-ship ballistic missile on Feb. 18."
"The ship had been slowly taking on water" since the attack took place, CENTCOM added.
Sinking of Motor Vessel⁰Rubymar Risks Environmental⁰Damage
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 3, 2024
On Mar. 2 at approximately 2:15 a.m., MV Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier, sank in the Red Sea after being struck by an Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist anti-ship ballistic missile on Feb. 18.
The ship… pic.twitter.com/fRUM4ll4cY
CENTCOM claimed last week that the Yemeni Armed Forces' attack on the M/V Rubymar ship in the Red Sea on February 18 caused "significant damage" to the ship and caused an 18-mile oil slick.
"The M/V Rubymar was transporting over 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked," CENTCOM posted on X.
Rubymar sinking for two weeks
The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) Brigadier General Yahya Saree confirmed that the YAF Navy conducted a military operation on February 18, targeting the British ship Rubymar in the Gulf of Aden, utilizing several appropriate naval missiles.
He affirmed that the operation resulted in catastrophic damage to the ship, putting it at risk of sinking. Later, Saree announced that the Rubymar was in fact sinking.
The spokesperson noted that as part of the operation, the YAF Navy ensured the safe evacuation of the ship's crew, underscoring that all personnel had reached safety.
Yemeni sources told Al Mayadeen that the M/V Rubymar was carrying Ammonia.
"As Yemeni naval weapons hit the ship, it caught fire and began sinking in the sea after attempts to rescue it failed," the sources mentioned.
The same sources highlighted that the British ship was targeted with new precision weapons that have not yet been unveiled.
In a related context, CENTCOM claimed its forces destroyed Friday seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch from Yemen toward the Red Sea.
