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Houthis Launch Missile and Drone Attacks on Two Oil Tankers in Red Sea, US Military Labels Them ‘Terrorist Acts’

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In a dangerous escalation, Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two crude oil tankers, the Saudi-flagged Amjad and the Panama-flagged Blue Lagoon I, in the Red Sea on Monday. The attacks, which the U.S. military described as “reckless acts of terrorism,” involved ballistic missiles and drones. The Houthis claimed responsibility for hitting the Blue Lagoon I with multiple missiles and drones, although they did not acknowledge the strike on the Saudi tanker.

The Amjad, laden with two million barrels of oil, and the Blue Lagoon I, carrying up to one million barrels, were attacked as they sailed near each other. Fortunately, neither vessel sustained major damage, and no casualties were reported, allowing both ships to continue their journeys.

The strikes are the latest in a series of Houthi attacks on maritime targets, which have alarmed Saudi Arabia and international maritime forces. Since November, the Houthis have intensified assaults in the region, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and killing three seafarers. The group, backed by Iran, claims to be acting in support of Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The attacks underscore the Houthis’ growing capability to target critical shipping lanes and escalate tensions in the region, further complicating the already fragile security landscape in the Middle East. Despite the damage being minimal this time, the assaults highlight the ongoing threat to international oil shipping and regional stability posed by the conflict in Yemen.

4o

Oil Leak Threatens Red Sea After Houthi Attack on Greek Tanker

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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.