Ynet reported yesterday, ‘The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations Agency (UKMTO) reported Monday that the Houthis sunk a ship traveling in the Red Sea, south of the port city of Mukha in Yemen. It is the first time since the start of Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza that a crew had to abandon their ship because of the Houthis.’
Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Houthis, claimed responsibility for the attack. However, he claims the ship did not sink but is on the brink of doing so, but that the crew did safely abandon ship.
Ynet added: ‘Sources gave the Lebanese al-Mayadeen channel, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, more details about the events. According to them, the ship was carrying ammonia and, after it was attacked, attempts were made to save it, but it caught fire and began to sink. The sources said that the ship “was attacked with a precise and new weapon that has not been revealed until now.”‘
Moreover, Reuters reported:
In a maritime advisory seen by Reuters, commercial ships were cautioned to stay away from the area of the abandoned vessel amid fears it might sink.
A U.S. defense official said the vessel had not sunk.
Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the leading union organization for seafarers, said the Rubymar attack should be a wake up call “to immediately prioritize seafarers’ safety, before we see human lives lost on the Red Sea.”
This attack comes after the European Union announced a new a naval strike force to protect the freighters passing through. Naval outlet gCaptain reported:
The European Council has launched a new maritime security naval operation focusing on protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced that Operation ASPIDES will establish a naval presence in the regions that have been targeted by Houthi attacks on international commercial vessels since October 2023. The operation aims to safeguard maritime security and preserve freedom of navigation for commercial vessels, and will also offer maritime situational awareness and protect vessels against potential “multi-domain” attacks at sea.
With the launch of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, the European Union is responding swiftly to the necessity to restore maritime security and freedom of navigation in a highly strategic maritime corridor.
said Borrell
Commanded by Commodore Vasilios Griparis and Rear Admiral Stefano Costantino, the operation will be active in the Baab al-Mandab Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, and international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. The base for the operation will be located in Larissa, Greece.
Operation ASPIDES will closely coordinate with EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, the EU’s ongoing counter-piracy operation off the Horn of Africa and West Indian Ocean, to enhance maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea. It will also collaborate with partners in its area of operation.
This initiative comes in response to numerous Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Oman since October 2023. These attacks not only endanger civilians aboard merchant and commercial vessels but also violate the freedom of the high seas and the right of transit passage in straits used for international navigation, as defined in the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2722 (2024) on January 10, 2024, condemning these attacks and emphasizing the importance of navigational rights. In its announcement, the Council called for an immediate stop of Houthis’ attacks and affirmed that navigational rights and freedoms for merchant and commercial vessels must be respected.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
It is also important to note that a U.S. reaper drone was either shot down or crashed in Yemen, as mainstream media does not want to disclose which. Nevertheless, regardless of any of this, whether any of it is true or not, it simply means that this war in the Middle East will expand.
The media and military keep blaming Iran for this, saying the Houthis are Iranian-backed, but provide no evidence as to how or why. The military industrial complex is frothing at the mouth to attack Iran. Be ready for a massive false flag event to expand this war…
[7] And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. [8] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. Mark 13:7-8
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Retired Lt. Colonel Daniel Davis has a website where he interviews guests or gives his breakdown of current military events. He tells it like it is without rose colored glasses which is refreshing to say the least.
I think his opinion is worth listening to, you can make up your own minds.
https://www.youtube.com/@DanielDavisDeepDive
Thank you, I’ll check it out.