The United Kingdom said that the ship "Rubimar" is at risk of leaking in the Red Sea, in light of high maritime risks after it nearly sank in the sea, following the attack that targeted the ship by the Houthi militia on February 18.

The British Embassy in Yemen said, in a brief statement on the

The embassy added, "The ship is now at risk of leaking into the Red Sea." She stressed the need to stop indiscriminate Houthi attacks.

A few days ago, the legitimate government formed a crisis management cell to deal with the situation of the ship "Rubimar", which was targeted by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden, which led to an oil leak with a length of 18 nautical miles, while the ship's cargo of fertilizers and oils poses catastrophic environmental risks.

Last Monday, the Minister of Water and Environment, Tawfiq Al-Sharjabi, said that the general situation regarding the “Rubimar” cargo ship, which was targeted by the Houthi militia, is very disturbing.

He stressed that the government authorities are doing their best to deal with possible scenarios for the ship currently stricken in the Red Sea, about 11 miles from the nearest point of land in Yemen, and that measures are currently being taken with those concerned to safely withdraw it from Yemeni territorial waters.

He explained that the targeted ship was not loaded with weapons or headed to Israel, as the Houthi militia claimed when it was targeted in the Red Sea, but rather was headed towards Bulgaria, and that targeting it harms Yemen and the Yemenis in various fields, and does not serve the Palestinians and their just cause.

He added: “The targeted ship is 171 meters long and 27 meters wide and has bulk tanks carrying a quantity of fertilizers (hazardous materials), oils and fuel, and carries the flag of the State of Belize, and is owned by the Golden Adventure Shipping Company registered in the Marshall Islands, and its management is of Syrian nationality.” Its crew numbered 24 people: 11 Syrians, 6 Egyptians, 3 Indians, and 4 Filipinos, all of whom were evacuated to Djibouti.

The Minister reviewed the risks and effects that the ship may cause in the environmental, navigational, economic and social aspects, in the event of any disaster and sinking or grounding of the ship... indicating that on February 18, the Houthi militia targeted the ship with two guided missiles, while it was crossing 25 miles away. Marinely from the port of Mokha in the Red Sea, which led to water flowing into the ship’s hull, causing it to be damaged and leaking a quantity of oil.

The US Central Command said that an attack launched by the Houthi rebels on the cargo ship "Rubimar" caused serious damage to the ship, and the leakage of an oil slick 29 kilometers long.

She added in a statement that the ship was transporting more than 41 thousand tons of fertilizer, which could lead to an environmental disaster.