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.

    • xor@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      8 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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        8 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@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          8 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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            8 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@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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              8 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.

              • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                No the ships are virtually all linked to israel (and more recently also America and Britain since they started bombing Yemen).

                I have debunked this myth like 50 times by now but if you fancy just name one ship and I can show you how it was linked very quickly.

                I have only seen one single instance of false targeting; a ship going to Russia that used to be British owned half a year ago which was falsely fired at because the Houthi’s used an outdated ownership list.

                Also good job on going to protests that’s highly commendable and praiseworthy.

                • xor@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                  8 months ago

                  Sophie II, Japanese, flying Panamanian flag.

                  Ardmore Encounter, Bermudan, Marshall islands flag. An Israeli previously held shares of the company that owns this one, but had divested months before.

                  Maersk Gibraltar, Danish, Hong Kong flag.

                  Al Jasrah, German, Liberian flag.

                  MSC Palatium III, Swiss, Liberian flag. The company that owns this one had “cooperated with Israel” in the past, though I don’t know the extent of this cooperation.

                  Swan Atlantic, Norwegian, Cayman Islands flag.

                  MSC Clara, Swiss, Panamanian flag.

                  Blaamanen, Norwegian owner & flag. This ship was carrying vegetable oil, which would have been an environmental crisis if damaged, and is critical to food supply.

                  Saibaba, Indian, Gabonese flag.

                  MSC United VIII, Swiss, Liberian flag.

                  Maersk Hangzhou, Danish, Singaporean flag. The Israeli “link” for this one is that it has shipped to Israel before, last in October 2023.

                  These are just the non-israeli-linked ships attacked in Nov/Dec 2023 alone. I can’t be arsed to go through Jan and Feb 24 because I’m deeply bored.

                  In the window I covered, 19 ships were attacked. Assuming I haven’t missed any connections for the ones above, that makes a total of 11 non-Israeli-linked and 8 Israeli-linked ships. I’m including US ships as Israeli-linked as an upper bound.

                  Giving us a total percentage of 42% of ships being Israeli-linked.

                  Thanks for the praise, but frankly I’m not looking for it. I’m still not super pleased you played the “genocide supporter” card. I would much prefer an apology for that uncalled for statement.

                  • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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                    8 months ago

                    Sophie II is a British-owned ship

                    Britain is on the no-go list since they started bombing Yemen to defend israel’s Genocide. As is America.

                    Initially they were not on the list. They put themselves on there.

                    You can’t seriously expect Yemen to let through ships from countries actively at war with them right?

                    Have fun googling the rest of the list yourself.

                    Saying that what the Houthi’s is doing is wrong is actively defending Genocide. I will not retract that statement.

                    The way that we ended the Apartheid in South Africa is by economic pressure, sanctions and boycotts. No different than what the Houthi’s are doing right now.

          • Linkerbaan@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            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?

            No I don’t know that one.

            That’s how fiscal conservatives held their nose and pulled the lever in 2016.

            So did Biden get elected in 2020 or not? We’ve heard this scary talk about Trump becoming a dictator before in 2016. Let me check who’s president right now…

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                8 months ago

                2016:

                If Trump loses the election, that will not remove the threats and social changes that trigger the “action side” of authoritarianism. The authoritarians will still be there. They will still look for candidates who will give them the strong, punitive leadership they desire.

                If bad Dems keep winning the right will only grow stronger. If Biden wins this time #Hitler2028 is a plausible reality as Biden is doing nothing to address any real problems and only gradually making things worse. Further bolstering Republicans.