US Warns of Environmental Catastrophe in the Red Sea Due to Houthi Destructive Actions

On Saturday, September 3, the US Department of State warned of an environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea, referencing Houthi attacks on the Greek oil tanker 'Sanyoun.' A spokesperson for the US State Department stated that the entry of one million barrels of oil into the Red Sea from the 'Sanyoun' tanker would be four times the Exxon Valdez disaster and added, 'The Houthis are destroying the fishing industry and the ecosystem that Yemenis and other regional communities rely on for their livelihoods.' Matthew Miller urged the Houthis to immediately cease their destructive actions and called on other countries to take the lead in helping to prevent this environmental catastrophe. The US Department of Defense also criticized the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday for attacking an oil tanker and creating an 'environmental disaster' in the Red Sea. The European Union naval operation in the Red Sea announced that the Sanyoun tanker, carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil, now poses a 'navigational and environmental hazard.' The Greek tanker 'Sanyoun' was attacked multiple times by Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea on Wednesday, August 31, resulting in a fire, engine failure, and loss of maneuverability. However, the crew of the ship was evacuated with the help of coalition forces and transferred to Djibouti. The Houthis claimed in a statement on Thursday that the Sanyoun tanker violated the 'ban on entering Israeli ports' and was thus attacked. Iran-aligned Houthi militants have been attacking international vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters since last November, claiming to support Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. These attacks have prompted responses from the US and Britain, who have repeatedly targeted Houthi-controlled areas. This crisis has harmed global maritime transport, with many cargo ships avoiding the Red Sea and Suez Canal, opting for longer and more costly alternative routes. The fire on the Greek tanker followed the Houthi attack. CENTCOM forces destroyed three Houthi drones. The Pentagon stated that 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. The UK Maritime Organization reported that a tanker in the Red Sea was targeted in multiple attacks. An allegation from a former Saudi official claimed that the Saudi crown prince forged the king's signature to go to war with the Houthis. The US Treasury Department sanctioned the commercial networks of the Houthis and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Houthis have been accused of three attacks on a ship in the Red Sea.