The Biden administration said late this week that they were concerned about the environmental fallout from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist attacks around the Arabian Peninsula.
The remarks from the administration come as the Islamic terrorist group has launched dozens of attacks against merchant ships over the last few months that have led to disruptions to shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
The disruptions have forced many ships to reroute their travel around the southern tip of Africa, adding weeks to their voyages and additional fuel costs for each ship — thus leading to a disruption in supply chains and added inflation.
The most serious attack the Houthis conducted was against the M/V Rubymar last weekend while it was traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
“On Feb. 18 between 9:30 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., Iran-backed Houthi terrorists attacked the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement late on Friday. “The ship is anchored but slowly taking on water.”
Photos of the vessel from earlier this week show that it is on the verge of sinking, and, if it does sink, it will be the first ship the Houthis have sunk during the current conflict.
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Despite the threat to the global economy that the attacks pose — in addition to lives of those on the ships and the risk that the attacks could spiral into a wider regional war — the Biden administration indicated that it was really concerned about the environmental impact of the attacks.
“The unprovoked and reckless attack by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists caused significant damage to the ship, which caused an 18-mile oil slick,” the statement continued. “The M/V Rubymar was transporting over 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked, which could spill into the Red Sea and worsen this environmental disaster. The Houthis continue to demonstrate disregard for the regional impact of their indiscriminate attacks, threatening the fishing industry, coastal communities, and imports of food supplies.”
On Feb. 18 between 9:30 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., Iran-backed Houthi terrorists attacked the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier. The ship is anchored but slowly taking on water. The unprovoked and reckless attack by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists caused significant… pic.twitter.com/bU6j850wwG
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 24, 2024