On Sunday, Iranian-backed Houthi forces attacked a cargo ship called Rubymar off the coast of Yemen, causing the crew to abandon the vessel.。The incident raised concerns over a key trade route in the Red Sea, raising tensions in the region.。

According to British Maritime Trade Operations, the ship was moored after the Rubymar attack and all crew members were safe.。Houthi spokesman Yahya Sare'e claimed responsibility for the attack, saying Rubymar was an ordinary cargo ship with British nationality, but actual data showed it was sailing under Belize's flag.。

Rubymar had planned to travel to Bulgaria from a Saudi port but suffered serious damage and allegedly may have sunk in the Gulf of Aden。The incident led to another Houthi attack on merchant ships in the Red Sea region, a tension that has kept oil prices high for more than three months。

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures remained around $79 a barrel, while Brent crude oil prices exceeded $83.。The attack on Rubymar was the first time vessels had been forced to evacuate since late last year, further adding to uncertainty in the oil market.。

Oil prices have been stuck in a narrow range of $70 to $80 since the beginning of the year, influenced by geopolitical tensions and OPEC + production cuts。Weak demand remains the focus of the market despite Iraq's pledge to improve compliance with the production cut agreement。