Houthis Blow Up Parts of Abandoned Greek Oil Tanker in the Red Sea

Yemeni Houthis released images on Thursday, September 8, showing their fighters blowing up parts of an abandoned Greek oil tanker in the Red Sea with bombs. According to the Associated Press, the actions of this Iran-backed group caused several explosions and fires, putting the ship at risk of an oil spill and an environmental disaster. Following the Houthi attacks on the Greek-flagged tanker 'Sounion' and the extent of the damage, the crew has fled, leaving the tanker abandoned in the Red Sea. In the released videos, Houthi fighters enter the ship to plant explosives and chant slogans against the U.S., Israel, and Jews after each explosion, promising the victory of Islam. The explosions on this tanker are considered the most serious recent attack by the Houthis on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, raising concerns in the region. Since the outbreak of war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis have attacked ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters under the pretext of supporting Palestinians. These attacks have disrupted the annual maritime trade worth one trillion dollars in the Red Sea and halted the delivery of some humanitarian shipments to Yemen and Sudan. The Houthis targeted the Sounion, which was carrying about one million barrels of oil, multiple times on August 31. A French destroyer in the area rescued the ship's crew and took them to Djibouti, but the severely damaged tanker remains abandoned in the Red Sea. Western countries and the United Nations warn that any oil spill from the Sounion could destroy coral reefs and marine life in the Red Sea. The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to the Associated Press's request for comment on the recent explosions on this tanker. According to the U.S. military, the Houthis suggested on Wednesday that they might allow the Sounion to be rescued; however, they had previously blocked aid workers from entering to repair and transfer it. The European Union rejected the U.S. claim: no oil spill from the Sounion has occurred in the Red Sea. The Iranian representation, referring to the environmental sabotage by the Houthis, agreed to a 'temporary ceasefire.' The U.S. Department of Defense warned that the Greek tanker continues to burn in the Red Sea and pollutes the sea. The U.S. warns of an impending environmental disaster in the Red Sea with the continued destructive actions of the Houthis. The Pentagon stated that the Houthi rebels have created a 'catastrophic threat' to the environment in Yemen's 'backyard.' A French destroyer rescued 29 sailors from the tanker that was attacked multiple times in the Red Sea.