Houthi-Attacked Oil Tanker Now Leaking, Pentagon Reports

The Greek-flagged oil tanker, Sounion, is currently on fire and leaking oil in the Red Sea, following a missile attack last week near Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. This tanker was carrying approximately one million barrels of crude oil.

 

Houthi Involvement and Regional Impact

The attack was claimed by the Houthis, a Yemeni group aligned with Iran, as a show of solidarity with the Palestinians amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The Houthis have targeted maritime vessels in the Red Sea as part of the wider regional conflict, with the attack on the Sounion being the latest instance. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree justified the attack as a response to breaches of their imposed restrictions concerning entry to what they refer to as “occupied Palestine.”

This incident is the third such attack on vessels operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers this month. Although the crew managed to extinguish the onboard fire, the tanker suffered significant damage.

 

Pentagon Response

Pentagon spokesman, Air Force Maj Gen Patrick Ryder, sharply criticized the assault, labeling it a reckless act of terrorism. He highlighted the broader implications of such actions, noting they threaten global and regional commerce, endanger civilian lives, and pose serious risks to the maritime environment in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, areas close to the Houthis’ operational base.

 

U.S. Military and Environmental Actions

Ryder also mentioned that the U.S. military is working with regional partners to help the stricken vessel and mitigate any environmental damage that might arise from the incident.

 

Background on the Houthis

The Houthis, officially led by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, are an Iran-supported Shia rebel group that has been embroiled in a conflict with the Yemeni government for nearly two decades. They currently hold control over northwest Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.