Houthi ship attack releases 17k tons of ammonium nitrate into Red Sea: US Embassy
The United States on Sunday accused Yemen’s Houthi group of deliberately sinking the commercial ship MV Rubymar (also known as Magic Seas), resulting in the release of 17,000 metric tons of ammonium nitrate into the Red Sea, an act Washington warns could severely disrupt marine life and trigger mass extinction across the food chain.
In a statement posted on X, the US Embassy in Yemen called the Houthis’ actions “reckless,” warning the chemical spill could “disrupt fish reproduction and cause mass extinction across the marine food chain.”
هجمات الحوثيين المتهورة على السفن لا تعكس أي اهتمام بالأسر اليمنية والبيئة. #USAwithYemen pic.twitter.com/nHT07Fy2dy
— U.S. Embassy Yemen السفارة الأمريكية لدى اليمن (@USEmbassyYemen) July 13, 2025
“The Houthis deliberately sank the ship, ignoring the devastating consequences for Yemeni families, trade, and the fishing industry,” the embassy said. The group has not responded publicly to the allegations.
The British Embassy in Yemen also condemned what it called “unprovoked Houthi attacks” on two Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated cargo vessels, Magic Seas and MV Eternity C. The UK said both ships were sunk, with at least four crew members confirmed dead and others still missing. It called on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all remaining crew of Eternity C.
The Houthi group claimed responsibility for targeting and sinking both ships last week, alleging they were headed to 'Israeli' ports.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi reaffirmed Thursday that his forces would continue blocking maritime traffic to and from 'Israeli' ports in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden, as long as the war on Gaza persists.
The attacks are part of the Houthis’ broader campaign to retaliate against 'Israel’s' offensive in Gaza, targeting vessels linked to or heading toward 'Israel' in what they describe as support for Palestinians.
