Houthis hit oil tanker, allow rescuers to prevent disaster
Photo: Houthis allowed rescuers to prevent fuel spills (twitter.com/LeonSimons8)
Houthi rebels in Yemen have agreed to allow tugs and rescue vessels to reach the damaged oil tanker in the Red Sea, according to Reuters.
Representatives from the shipping company stated that the tanker Sounion is carrying 150,000 tons, or 1 million barrels, of crude oil and poses an environmental hazard. A potential spill could become one of the largest in history.
"Several countries have reached out to ask Ansarullah (the Houthis), requesting a temporary truce for the entry of tugboats and rescue ships into the incident area. In consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns, Ansarullah has consented to this request," Iran’s UN mission in New York said.
Yemen's Houthis spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam told Reuters on Wednesday that there is no temporary ceasefire, and that the group agreed to allow the tanker Sounion to be towed only after several international parties contacted them.
The vessel was hit by several shells last week near Yemen's port city of Hodeidah. There have been conflicting reports about whether oil is leaking from the ship. However, Reuters has not received independent confirmation that fuel is leaking or spilling from the vessel.
Wow
— Leon Simons (is fine) (@LeonSimons8) August 23, 2024
Oil tanker Sounion carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil bombed in the Red Sea by Yemeni forces:
pic.twitter.com/yRDLR1fRnF
The Pentagon stated on Tuesday that a third party attempted to send two tugs to rescue the Sounion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them.
In a statement on Wednesday, Iran’s mission to the UN said, “The failure to provide aid and prevent an oil spill in the Red Sea stems from the negligence of certain countries, rather than concerns over the possibility of being targeted.”
Yemen Houthis' attacks
In November 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthi group began launching drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, in solidarity with Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Since then, the terrorists have conducted 70 attacks, sinking two vessels, capturing another, and killing at least three sailors.
A US-led coalition, including several European countries, has deployed its naval forces to the region to assist Israel and other nations in countering Houthi attacks.
On August 14, the US forces destroyed two Houthi vessels.
The day before, military forces destroyed several Houthi drones in Yemen.
In late July, the US military eliminated three Houthi missile launchers in one of Yemen's districts.
