Red Sea
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have released alarming footage depicting their fighters boarding and placing explosives on a Greek-flagged tanker in the Red Sea, a move that has heightened concerns over a potential major oil spill.
The footage, released on Thursday, shows masked Houthi fighters armed with Kalashnikov-style rifles boarding the vessel, Sounion, after it had been abandoned.
The video captures the fighters rigging explosives on the ship’s deck, specifically targeting the hatches that lead to the oil tanks below. The footage concludes with at least six simultaneous explosions.
According to the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency, the group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, claimed that the attack on the Sounion is a demonstration of the ineffectiveness of American deterrence claims regarding Yemeni operations in support of Palestine.
Al-Houthi stated that the successful execution of their operations and their control over the situation was evident to their adversaries. The Sounion had departed from Iraq and was en route to a port near Athens when it was targeted.
The vessel had been abandoned prior to the latest attack, following repeated assaults by the Houthis.
The incident marks one of the most severe attacks by the Houthis in recent weeks, significantly disrupting the $1 trillion worth of goods that transit through the Red Sea annually. This escalation is part of the Houthis’ broader campaign in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Initially, the Sounion was carrying approximately one million barrels of oil when the Houthis first targeted it on August 21 using small arms fire, projectiles, and a drone boat.
The attack prompted the crew, consisting of 25 Filipinos and Russians, along with four private security personnel, to abandon the vessel.
A French destroyer, operating under the European Union’s Operation Aspides, rescued them and transported them to Djibouti.
The potential environmental impact of an oil spill from the Sounion is a significant concern. Western countries and the United Nations have warned that such a spill could severely damage the Red Sea’s coral reefs and wildlife.
The EU’s naval force in the region has reported that no oil spill has been observed yet. Operation Aspides is coordinating with European authorities and neighboring countries to prepare for any necessary actions to prevent a catastrophic environmental crisis, emphasizing the need to protect the region’s environment and maintain stability.
On Wednesday, the Houthis suggested that they might allow the Sounion to be salvaged, although they had previously blocked attempts by crews to reach the abandoned vessel, according to the US military.
The Houthis’ campaign has involved targeting more than 80 vessels with missiles and drones in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing conflict.
This campaign has resulted in the seizure of one vessel, the sinking of two others, and the death of four sailors. Some missiles and drones have been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets.
The Houthis assert that their attacks target ships associated with Israel, the US, or the UK to pressure for an end to Israel’s siege and its aggressive actions in Gaza.
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