Oil Leak Threatens Red Sea After Houthi Attack on Greek Tanker

The Pentagon has confirmed that the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, attacked by Yemen‘s Houthi rebels last week, is now leaking oil. The Sounion, carrying approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil, was targeted with multiple projectiles off the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. The Houthis, who control Yemen‘s most populous regions, claim the attack was in solidarity with Palestinians in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The Pentagon spokesman, Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder, stated that the Houthis have threatened to attack any vessels attempting to salvage the Sounion, which is still on fire. He condemned the attack as a “reckless act of terrorism” that destabilizes global and regional commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and threatens the delicate maritime ecosystem of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The US military is working with regional partners to determine how to assist the vessel and mitigate the potential environmental impact. The Houthis have sunk two ships and killed at least three crew members in their 10-month campaign, which has forced vessel owners to avoid the Suez Canal shortcut, significantly disrupting global ocean shipping.

The Houthis specifically cited Delta Tankers, the Sounion‘s operator, for violating their ban on entering “occupied Palestine” ports. This attack marks the third vessel operated by Delta Tankers to be targeted in the Red Sea this month.

The potential for a major oil spill in the Red Sea raises serious environmental concerns. The largest recorded ship-source oil spill occurred in 1979, when approximately 287,000 metric tons of oil leaked from the Atlantic Empress after a collision in the Caribbean Sea.