Pentagon: Houthi-Attacked Oil Tanker May Be Leaking Oil

The Greek-flagged crude oil tanker Sounion, attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels, remains on fire in the Red Sea and is leaking oil, according to the US Pentagon. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, claimed the attack as part of their solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas. The vessel, operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers, was carrying about one million barrels of crude oil from Iraq to Greece. The crew was evacuated following the attack, which has raised concerns about a potential major oil spill.

The US military, in coordination with regional partners, is assessing the environmental impact and working to prevent further disruptions to global and regional commerce. The Sounion is the third vessel operated by Delta Tankers to be attacked this month. The US State Department has expressed concerns about the potential spill, which could be significantly larger than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. Efforts to tow the tanker to safety have been hindered by Houthi threats, and the situation continues to be monitored by US Central Command and European Union naval forces.