Houthi Attack on Oil Tanker Sparks Red Sea Environmental Fears

An Iranian-backed Houthi militia attack on the Greek oil tanker Sounion off the coast of Al Hudaydah in Yemen has sparked fears of an environmental disaster in the Red Sea, reports Hudhaifa Ebrahim. The tanker, carrying over 150,000 tons of oil, has been burning for more than four days, and its deteriorating condition raises the risk of a major oil spill. While Houthi forces claim the tanker was targeted for its ties to Israel, Iraqi media disputes this, stating the ship was transporting oil from Iraq to Greece. The attack is the latest in a series of over 100 Houthi assaults on vessels in the region this year, despite the efforts of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian alliance to protect maritime traffic.

Yemeni journalist Mujahed Al-Salali criticized the Houthis for their ongoing attacks, which have polluted large areas of the Red Sea and Yemen. He also highlighted the continued smuggling of weapons from Iran to the Houthis, which has exacerbated the conflict and posed further threats to regional stability. Meanwhile, environmental experts, such as Karim Jahan, warn that a spill in the Red Sea could devastate marine life and cause millions of dollars in damage.

Read the full article by Hudhaifa Ebrahim for an in-depth look at the environmental and political consequences of this ongoing crisis in the Red Sea.