A cargo ship that was struck by a Houthi ballistic missile on Monday has created an 18-mile long oil slick in the Red Sea as it continues to take on water, two US officials said Friday.

The M/V Rubymar — a Belize-flagged, UK-registered, Lebanese-owned vessel — was carrying 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was struck on Monday by one of two ballistic missiles fired from Houthi territory in Yemen.

US Central Command said the ship is currently anchored as it takes on water. “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,” US Central Command said.

  • derf82@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Israel is guilty for what it’s doing, but blaming Israel for these Houthi attacks is ridiculous.

    The Houthis are self serving in these attacks. As they have claimed land, support has turned against them because it turns out they suck at providing services to the people that live in areas they control. So they are falling back to the one popular policy they have: supporting Palestinians, and fighting back against “imperialists.”

    Except attacking ships in the Red Sea is doing nothing for the Palestinians. Maybe if they only targeted Israeli vessels of ships heading to/from there, but they are not. Even getting bombed has an upside as it reinforces their underdog anti-imperialist messaging.

      • xor
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        9 months ago

        Ahhh the houthis said it wasn’t true, well glad that’s resolved then 👍

          • xor
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            9 months ago

            I’m not saying you should uncritically accept the statement of whoever you’re referring to (presumably biden)

            But that is equally true for the houthis as well

            • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              The Houthi’s stopped attacking civilian ships during the temporary ceasefire in November.

              Biden says he wants israel to stop committing war-crimes and then bypasses congress to send israel more tank shells and mortar explosives which are primarily used to blow up houses in Gaza…

              Actions mean everything. Words mean nothing. Biden wants to commit Genocide and the Houthi’s want to stop Genocide.

              • xor
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                9 months ago

                But the houthis continue to attack civilian vessels again.

                One can both oppose the US’ (horrifying) support of Israel’s genocide, and also criticise the indiscriminate targeting of civilian vessels by the houthis.

                • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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                  9 months ago

                  Yes. Because israel broke the ceasefire

                  There is nothing indiscriminate about it. They only target ships from nations participating in the Genocide of Palestinians. Their ships are illegally trespassing until a ceasefire is reached.

                  The Houthi’s have done an outstanding job at selective targeting and upholding international law. Meanwhile you are here advocating for Genocide.

                  • xor
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                    9 months ago

                    I’m aware of why they continue the strikes - but I take issue with the strikes themselves.

                    The problem is the ships targeted are frequently not linked whatsoever to Israel, or its supporters. The houthis are attacking ships far outside the entire Yemeni exclusive economic zone, so no, the ships in international waters are not trespassing.

                    Targeting civilian ships, especially those unrelated to the conflict, is absolutely unacceptable. Additionally, their approach directly drives up food prices, which disproportionately affects those most affected by food scarcity, including but not limited to the Palestinians themselves.

                    you are here advocating for genocide

                    Oh get the fuck out of it. I directly oppose Israel’s war on Gaza, and frequently attend protests against my own country’s support of them.

              • blazeknave@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                And GOP want to eliminate democracy and replace it with autocratic theocracy. Stfu about Biden. You want a US to complain about?

                You know when your asshole friend picks a fight and is completely in the wrong, and you hate them for it, but you gotta fuck up the other guys bc it’s your friend, but THEN you can whoop your friend’s ass?

                That’s how fiscal conservatives held their nose and pulled the lever in 2016. If they can do it in spite of autocracy at home, you can do it for a decades long situation of which US policy is never going to change, as long as there are nukes in Iran.

    • livus@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      @derf82 I’m not “blaming Israel” for decisions taken by the Houthis. I don’t really get why you’d take that from my comment.

      Israelis made their own decisions.

      Houthis proceeded to make their own decisions about how to respond to that too. I have no doubt that they are pursuing an agenda.

      And the ecology of the Red Sea is no longer a priority for most people in the region because everyone has to make decisions based on what’s happening.

    • Jojo@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      they have claimed land,

      fighting back against “imperialists.”

      Hey, I think I know how they can do that basically for free!