Yemen Monitor/Newsroom
The US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, has warned of an environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea as a result of an attack on an oil tanker by the Houthi group.
In a statement on Thursday, the Pentagon said that “oil is likely to leak from a ship attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea, and this will lead to an environmental disaster”.
It also added that “the Houthis have a huge arsenal, but we have succeeded in undermining their capabilities,” warning that “the environmental catastrophe that will be caused by the oil spill in the Red Sea will harm the Houthis themselves”.
Earlier, the Houthi group admitted to targeting the “MV Sounion” oil tanker in the Red Sea, causing it to sink, and the “SW Northwind” ship in the Gulf of Aden, hitting it accurately”.
On Wednesday, the UKMTO announced that the Greek-flagged oil tanker “Sounion” was hit by 3 shells, 77 miles west of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, while its crew was rescued, according to an official in the EU Naval Force in the Red Sea, “ASPIDES”, to Reuters.
“ASPIDES” also stated today that the tanker “Sounion” carries 150,000 tons of crude oil and has become an “environmental hazard”.
Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides condemned the attack on the tanker yesterday, saying: “It is a flagrant violation of international law and a serious threat to the safety of international shipping.”
