Washington warns of imminent environmental and navigational danger due to Houthi attacks on an oil tanker in the Red Sea

The US envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, warned of an imminent environmental and navigational danger resulting from Houthi militia attacks on an oil tanker in the Red Sea.

"Another imminent environmental and navigational threat from the Houthis' reckless attacks on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea," the State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs quoted Lenderking as saying.

"The oil tanker 'Sunion', carrying one million barrels of oil, caught fire and drifted following Houthi attacks," Lenderking said.

US State Department Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, citing US Special Envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking: “Another imminent environmental and maritime threat from the reckless Houthi attacks on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea. The oil tanker “Sunion,” carrying 1 million barrels of oil, caught fire and drifted…

— US State Department (@USAbilAraby) August 24, 2024

The UK Maritime Trade Operations said in a note on Friday that it had received reports of three fires on board the vessel, which "appears to be drifting."

The Houthi militia published footage documenting the burning of the Greek ship "Sunion" in the Red Sea, claiming that the attack came in response to the ship's violation of the ban imposed on Israeli ports.

The European Union's naval mission in the Red Sea (Aspedis) said on Thursday that the tanker, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, now poses an environmental hazard.

The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) warned on Thursday that "it is likely that oil will leak from a ship attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea, and this will lead to an environmental disaster."

She explained that "the environmental disaster that will be caused by the oil spill will harm the Houthis themselves," noting that "the Houthis have a huge arsenal, but we have succeeded in undermining their capabilities."

Source: Agencies