On the evening of February 19th local time, a Yemeni Houthi Spokesperson announced that Houthi forces had launched missile attacks on two U.S. ships and a drone, causing devastating damage to a British cargo ship, which has now completely sunk.
Details of the Ship Attacks
In the past 24 hours, Houthi forces claimed to have carried out four armed actions, attacking three U.S. and British ships. In the city of Hodeidah in the Red Sea, they also shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone.
The first ship attacked and sunk was the “Rubymar,” a cargo ship registered in the UK, flying the Belize flag, and operated by Lebanon. The vessel was en route from the UAE to Bulgaria when the Houthi operation caused catastrophic damage to the ship, forcing the crew to abandon it. The cargo ship has reportedly wholly sunk.
It’s worth noting that while many boats have been hit in recent months, the attack on the “Rubymar” is one of the most destructive cases by Houthi forces so far. Since November 2023, no ship in the Red Sea has been attacked to the extent of being abandoned or sunk.
The second operation targeted a U.S. MQ-9 drone in the airspace of the Hodeidah province. This marks the second time since November last year that the same type of “Reaper” large-scale surveillance and strike drone has been shot down.
The last two operations targeted two U.S. ships – the “Sea Champion” and the “Navis Fortuna.” The “Sea Champion” is a bulk carrier flying the Greek flag, and the “Navis Fortuna” is a bulk carrier flying the Marshall Islands flag.
Airstrikes by Britain and America
On the 18th, the U.S. Central Command confirmed that between 15:00 and 20:00 local time in Sanaa, Yemen, on the 17th, the U.S. military conducted five airstrikes on three anti-ship cruise missiles, one uncrewed underwater vehicle, and one uncrewed surface vessel in Houthi-controlled areas, hitting a Houthi uncrewed surface vessel and an underwater drone. However, Houthi forces claim that the U.S. military failed to achieve its goals.
On the 19th local time, the U.S. and the UK carried out airstrikes in the Jabana area of northern Hodeidah province under Houthi control, highlighting the ongoing tension in the region.
Additionally, the U.S. sanctions targeting Houthi forces as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” entity have officially taken effect. In response, Houthi forces condemned the U.S. sanctions and announced intentions to launch more attacks on the Red Sea shipping route. The tension in the Red Sea further escalates.
EU Launches Escort Operation
On the 19th local time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced at the European People’s Party conference held in Berlin, Germany, that the EU had initiated the Red Sea escort mission.
The escort operation is planned to last one year, with the possibility of extension, aiming to restore and maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf. The EU fleet is solely dedicated to protecting civilian vessels in the Red Sea region and will not actively engage the Houthi positions in Yemen.
The EU stated that this operation would cover the main maritime routes in the Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz and international waters in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf.
It may take several weeks from the formal launch to the execution of specific escort tasks. Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, and others plan to deploy multiple warships to the Red Sea region.