An attack on a cargo ship in the Red Sea has caused a miles-long oil slick. Things could get worse

The U.S. military says an attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels on a Belize-flagged ship earlier this month caused a significant oil leak. It also warned of the danger of a spill from the vessel’s cargo of fertilizer. The Rubymar was attacked on Feb. 18 while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The ship is a British-registered and Lebanese-operated cargo vessel. The U.S. Central Command said Saturday that the vessel suffered significant damage which led to an 18-mile or 29-kilometer oil slick. CENTCOM separately said it launched attacks on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Friday. It said it destroyed seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.