Pentagon: Greek tanker Sounion likely leaking oil into the Red Sea

A Pentagon spokesperson has announced that the Greek tanker Sounion, which was recently targeted by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, is still on fire and appears to be leaking oil into the sea. The Sounion, flying the Greek flag, was hit by several projectiles last week near Hodeidah, Yemen. The Houthis, who control the most populous areas of Yemen, have claimed responsibility for the attack on this tanker. This group, considered an ally of Iran, has targeted many vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with drone and missile attacks since the early weeks of the current Gaza war, claiming to support the Palestinians. General Patrick Ryder, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, stated on Tuesday, September 6, that a neutral entity has attempted to send two tugboats to the area to rescue the Sounion, but the Houthis have threatened to attack them. He also mentioned that the tanker was carrying and transferring about one million barrels of crude oil. The Pentagon has held the Houthis responsible for the environmental disaster in the Red Sea. General Ryder added, "These are simply irresponsible terrorist acts that harm global and regional trade, endanger the lives of innocent civilian mariners, and threaten the living marine ecosystem of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which is a Houthi stronghold." He further stated that the U.S. military is consulting with its partners in the region to determine how to assist the vessel and mitigate the potential environmental impacts. The Houthis have sunk two ships and killed at least three crew members during their ten-month campaign. Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Houthi army, stated in a televised speech that the Houthis' attack on this tanker was partly due to Delta Tankers violating the ban on "entering occupied Palestinian ports." The Sounion is the third vessel managed by Delta Tankers, based in Athens, to be attacked in the Red Sea this month. The other two vessels targeted by the Houthis are named "Delta Blue" and "Delta Atlantica." Delta Tankers issued a statement saying that the attack caused a fire on the deck of the tanker, which the crew extinguished. However, the European Union naval mission in the Red Sea, Spides, released images of the tanker on Monday showing that the fire is still ongoing. Previously, the British Maritime Trade Operations organization had warned that the tanker has become an "environmental hazard" in its current state.