Greek-Flagged Tanker Attacked by Yemen’s Houthi Rebels: EU Confirms No Oil Spill in the Red Sea

European Union marines who boarded the Greek-flagged oil tanker that was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels last week spotted no signs of oil contamination in the surrounding waters, the European Union mission on the Red Sea has said. The tanker was attacked near the Yemeni Red Sea port of Hodeidah, where the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said it had targeted the vessel. 

 The tanker MV Sounion, which transported 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, was initially considered to be burning due to a possible oil leak. The Pentagon expressed concerns over the impact on the environment, claiming that a spill could turn into one of the worst oil-leaking incidents in the history of ship disasters. 

 On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said that a third party wanting to tow tugboats to help salvage the Sounion was an act that the Houthis threatened to intercept. Ryder strongly denounced the attack, describing it as reckless terrorism that poses a significant threat to international and regional commerce and is a threat to civilian marines and the marine habitat along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. 

 The US military has been working with regional allies to evaluate such circumstances and potential approaches to rendering assistance to the vessel while controlling negative environmental effects. 

 However, the EU mission in the Red Sea, Aspides, has affirmed that the Sounion remains have not moved and did not drift. The mission is said to be closely considering protective measures, such as towing the tanker to a safer area. 

The Yemeni Houthis, backed by Iran, have been behind a series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea in a show of support for the Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. It’s the third case this month in which a vessel belonging to the Athenian-based Delta Tankers was targeted. 

 Speaking on live television, Houthi military arm’s spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the attack was in retaliation to the company’s entry into the ports in the ‘occupied Palestine’. 

 One of the worst criminal actors is the Houthi rebel group that has launched a 10-month battle that affected international sea commerce and made shippers divert their vessels away from the Suez Canal shortcut. This campaign has led to the destruction of two ships and the loss of life of not less than three personnel. 

 The Sounion company raised its alarm to the enormous recorded oil slick caused by a ship because of the risk of spilling oil on the sea. Atlantic Empress, registered in Liberia, was said to have released about 287,000 metric tonnes of oil into the Caribbean Sea close to Tobago in 1979 after a storm led to a collision with another crude carrier. 

 As the situation progresses, the world turns its attention to the Red Sea. The international community awaits the next step regarding the Sounion and how it will affect any changes in the situation regarding piracy and its effects on the seas in the area.