NEW YORK, February 19. /TASS/. Two missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the UK-owned merchant ship Rubymar on February 18, and one of them struck the target, the US Central Command said in a statement.
"Two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen toward MV Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier. One of the missiles struck the vessel, causing damage," said the statement posted on X.
"The ship issued a distress call and a coalition warship along with another merchant vessel responded," the statement went on to say. "The crew was transported to a nearby port by the merchant vessel."
The LSS-SAPU company, which provides security services to Rubymar, earlier said the ship suffered serious damage from a missile attack. Sky News Arabia television, citing Yemeni sources, reported the ship had sunk. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency, the Rubymar, which was heading from the United Arab Emirates to Bulgaria, came under fire 35 nautical miles to the south of the city of Mocha in Yemen.
Following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the group, also known as the Houthis, said they would strike Israeli territory and prevent ships affiliated with that country from passing through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave ended. The Houthis have attacked dozens of civilian ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since mid-November.