Houthis Allow Access to Damaged Oil Tanker Amid Environmental Crisis in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthi group has agreed to allow tugboats and rescue ships to reach a damaged crude oil tanker, the Sounion, in the Red Sea after the vessel was attacked by Iran-aligned militants last week. The tanker, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, poses a significant environmental hazard, with the potential for one of the largest spills in recorded history if not addressed promptly. Several countries have requested a temporary truce from the Houthis to allow entry of the necessary vessels into the incident area, which the group has consented to in consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns.

The Houthis spokesperson, Mohammed Abdulsalam, clarified that there is no temporary truce in place, and the group only agreed to allow the towing of the oil tanker after multiple international parties reached out to them. The Sounion was targeted by multiple projectiles off Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah, with conflicting reports on whether oil is leaking or spilling from the vessel. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack and have been conducting aerial drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea since November.

Despite efforts to salvage the Sounion, the Pentagon reported that the Houthis threatened to attack two tugs sent to assist with the operation. Iran’s U.N. mission criticized certain countries for failing to provide aid and prevent an oil spill in the Red Sea, attributing the negligence to concerns over being targeted rather than the urgency of the situation. The ongoing conflict in the region has raised concerns about the safety of maritime activities and the potential for further environmental damage if not addressed effectively.

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