Ship crew members evacuate vessel near Yemen following alleged missile strike claimed by Houthi rebels

A commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden was abandoned by its crew after being attacked by missiles, according to authorities. The Houthi rebel movement in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the ship was at risk of sinking. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed that an unidentified ship had been abandoned after sustaining damage from an explosion. Reports from Lloyd's List Intelligence indicated that the vessel, named Rubymar, was hit by two missiles. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have been conducting numerous missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming to support the Palestinians in the conflict with Israel. As a result, many shipping companies have chosen to avoid the area, which accounts for approximately 12% of global seaborne trade. To counter these attacks, the US and UK have launched airstrikes on Houthi-controlled regions in western Yemen. Regarding the recent incident involving the Rubymar, the ship's crew abandoned the vessel following the attack while military authorities remained on the scene for assistance. Additionally, a maritime security firm reported that another cargo ship came under attack in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, with the crew being evacuated by another merchant vessel, consistent with a Singaporean-flagged container ship. The Rubymar, which flies the Belize flag, sustained severe damage and is at risk of sinking. The Houthi military spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying the Rubymar as a British ship. The registered owner of the vessel is Golden Adventure Shipping, located in Southampton, England. Separately, a Greek-flagged, US-owned cargo ship called for military assistance following a missile attack near the southern Yemeni port of Aden. The Houthi spokesman also claimed that their air defenses shot down a US unmanned aerial vehicle. In response to perceived threats to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the area, US Central Command carried out five strikes against Houthi-controlled Yemeni regions. This marked the first time that a submarine drone was identified as being used by the Houthis during their attacks.