Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have declared their intention to persist in targeting British vessels in the Gulf of Aden, in the aftermath of the sinking of the UK-owned ship Rubymar. The confirmation of Rubymar's sinking came from the U.S. military on Saturday, attributing the incident to an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi militants on February 18.

Hussein al-Ezzi, the deputy foreign minister in the Houthi-led government, affirmed this stance, stating, "Yemen will continue to sink more British ships, and any repercussions or other damages will be added to Britain's bill." Al-Ezzi further criticized Britain's support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, labeling it as complicity in "ongoing crimes against civilians in Gaza."

The Houthi movement has been engaged in a campaign of launching drones and missiles against international commercial shipping in the Red Sea since mid-November. They claim solidarity with Palestinians in response to Israel's military actions in Gaza. These attacks have disrupted global shipping routes, compelling companies to opt for longer and costlier journeys around southern Africa.

The escalating tensions have raised concerns about the potential for the conflict between Israel and Hamas to spill over and destabilize the wider Middle East region. In response to the attacks on Red Sea shipping, the U.S. and Britain initiated airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen starting from January.

The Rubymar incident marks a continuation of the maritime conflict in the region, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. The situation remains volatile, with implications for international maritime trade and regional stability.