Watch: Fires Erupt on Greek Tanker After Houthi Red Sea Attack

Three fires broke out on a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Friday, just a day after rescuers had evacuated the crew following an attack by Yemeni Houthi militants.

The Houthis, aligned with Iran and controlling large parts of Yemen, claimed responsibility for the assault on the Sounion oil tanker. They said the attack was part of their ongoing 10-month campaign against commercial shipping, aimed at supporting Palestinians amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The tanker was initially damaged on Wednesday when the Houthis launched repeated attacks that caused a fire and disabled the engine. A European warship later rescued the 25-member crew. The uncrewed tanker was left anchored between Yemen and Eritrea, according to a maritime security source who spoke to Reuters.

On Friday, UKMTO reported that three fires had been spotted on the drifting vessel. Later in the day, the Houthis released a video on social media, allegedly showing them setting the tanker on fire.

The tanker, which is carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil, now poses a significant environmental risk, according to the EU’s Red Sea naval mission Aspides.

The Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority warned that a potential oil spill could have devastating consequences for the region’s marine environment. The largest recorded spill from a ship occurred in 1979 when approximately 287,000 tons of oil leaked from the Atlantic Empress after a collision in the Caribbean Sea, according to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation.

This incident marks the third time this month that a vessel operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers has been targeted by the Houthis.

The Houthis claimed that the attack on the tanker was partially due to Delta Tankers violating a ban on entry to “the ports of occupied Palestine,” as stated by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree in a televised address.

Delta Tankers said on Friday that they are doing everything possible to secure the vessel and its cargo. For security reasons, the company declined to provide further details.