Repairs are underway for three undersea telecommunications cables damaged in the Red Sea in February, despite increased attacks by Houthi militias on ships in the region. The AAE-1 cable has been repaired, with the two others in progress. The downtime has forced operators to reroute traffic at considerable expense.
The sinking of the MV Rubymar off the coast of Yemen has prompted the United Nations International Maritime Organization to urgently request donations for oil spill response equipment. The ship, attacked by the Houthis, poses a serious environmental and maritime security threat, with its cargo still at risk of leakage.
Yemeni Houthis attacked six ships in different seas, damaging the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Laax. The US-flagged Maersk Hartford was unharmed. Houthis describe attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Laax sustained missile hits but reached its destination safely. Houthis target ships heading to Israel, disrupting global shipping traffic.
Efforts to limit environmental damage from sunken cargo ships due to Houthi attacks are on hold, as attacks continue to disrupt salvage operations. The incidents include a British-owned ship, Ruby Lake, and a Greek vessel, True Trust, prompting concerns over fuel leaks and fertilizer spills impacting marine life.
