Yemeni government calls for preventing environmental disaster in Red Sea

The Yemeni government on Saturday called on the international community to help address a looming environmental crisis sparked by a Houthi assault on a cargo ship carrying hazardous chemicals in the Red Sea.

In a statement, the government directed the formation of an emergency committee to deal with a potential spillage of thousands of tons of fertilizer and oil from the British-owned, Belize-flagged bulk carrier "Rubymar," which was attacked by the Houthis as it transited the strategic shipping route in the Red Sea on February 18.

The Yemeni government ordered the committee to develop an emergency plan to address the threatening situation.

It also called on the international community to help handle the crisis quickly to prevent the dangerous materials from leaking and causing a potential ecological catastrophe in the Red Sea.

The United States Central Command corroborated the incident, saying on social media platform X that a 29-kilometer oil slick started emerging from the damaged ship. It warned that the chemicals on board "could spill into the Red Sea and worsen this environmental disaster."

Operated by a Lebanese company, the Rubymar departed from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) bound for Bulgaria with its crew escaping unharmed after last week's Houthi assault in the Red Sea.

Local experts now fear a spill or leak from the damaged carrier's cargo could have devastating consequences for the fragile regional ecosystem.

As the stricken ship remains at anchor while slowly taking on water, Yemen's government is scrambling to mobilize an emergency response and avert a potential environmental disaster in the Red Sea, according to the experts.

The Houthis have stepped up their attacks on international shipping since mid-November last year, saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who faced intense Israeli attacks.

U.S. and British forces since January have responded with dozens of airstrikes on Houthi targets, including mobile missile launchers and underwater drones, but have failed to deter the group from launching more attacks.