A Greek-flagged ship that was attacked by Houthis in the Red Sea appears to be leaking oil, according to a Pentagon spokesman, who warned of a “potential environmental catastrophe” in one of the world’s busiest waterways.
The Sounion came under fire last week after the Iran-backed group attacked the tanker as part of a months-long campaign against ships along the sea route.
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, say the attacks are a response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza – which has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians and devastated parts of the enclave.
The Israeli military launched an offensive after the October 7 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel left about 1,200 people dead and 250 hostage, according to Israeli officials.
Images released recently show the moment the ship is hit by fire. The Sounion is carrying about a million barrels of crude oil, Pentagon press secretary Major General Patrick Ryder said on Tuesday (27).
The ship was sailing from Iraq to Greece when it was attacked, according to Ryder. The entire crew of 23 Filipino sailors and two Russians evacuated the carrier.
“The MV Delta Sounion is now immobilized in the Red Sea, where it is currently on fire and appears to be leaking oil, posing both a danger to navigation and a potential environmental catastrophe,” Ryder said.
The damage to the ship poses a “navigational risk and a serious and imminent threat of regional pollution,” according to Eunavfor Aspides, a European Union maritime security defensive operation that aims to protect merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf.
“There was no oil spill and the ship is still anchored and not adrift,” Eunavfor Aspides said in a post on X on Wednesday (28), adding that fires had been detected in several locations on the main deck.
Houthi attacks have sunk at least two ships and killed three crew members in the Red Sea – which connects to the Suez Canal, a vital waterway that accounts for 10-15% of global trade – according to Reuters.
Reuters reported that the Houthis fired on the tanker because Delta Tankers violated a ban on “entry into Palestinian-occupied ports,” according to the group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree.
“Temporary truce”
The Iran-backed group will declare a “temporary truce” to allow rescue ships to reach the area to control the blaze, Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations confirmed to CNN in a statement on Wednesday.
But the mission warned that “as long as the war in Gaza persists”, the Houthis “will continue to attack oil tankers destined for the Israeli regime in the Red Sea” – referring to the group also known as Ansar Allah (Supporters of God).
Earlier this year, major shipping groups called on governments to end Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which have sent costs soaring as companies turn to alternative cargo routes with longer journey times.
The US State Department called on the Houthis to cease attacks along the busy shipping route and called on other nations to “step forward to help prevent this environmental disaster.”
The largest oil spill from a ship was recorded in 1979, when an estimated 287,000 metric tons of oil leaked from the Atlantic Empress after it collided with another aircraft carrier in the Caribbean Sea during a storm, according to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation.
Artemis Moshtaghian, from CNN contributed to this article.
This content was originally published in Greek oil tanker attacked by Houthis poses risk of leak on CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
