Oil spill in the Red Sea: The US military warns of an environmental disaster

After the missile attack launched by the Yemeni Houthi militia on a cargo ship, the US military warned of an environmental disaster in the Red Sea. The US Regional Command said on Saturday that the attacks resulted in an oil slick about 30 kilometers long. The ship was anchored and was slowly filling with water. The ship “Rubimar” was carrying about 41,000 tons of fertilizer, which could end up in the Red Sea, further exacerbating the environmental disaster.

The cargo ship is located in the southern Red Sea near the Gulf of Mandab.Image: Cornerstone

Last Sunday, the Houthis said that they attacked a cargo ship and severely damaged it with missiles in the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The UKMTO, part of the British Navy, reported the attack and said the crew had been taken to safety. Djibouti port authorities later reported that the crew of the Belize-flagged ship “Rubimar” arrived safely in Djibouti.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, Ahmed bin Mubarak, called on countries and other organizations to participate in environmental protection measures in the event that the ship sinks. (Committee on Science and Technology/DAP/EPA)