US says tanker attacked by Houthis could be leaking oil

[Pelican Press 0]

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US says tanker attacked by Houthis could be leaking oil

An oil tanker which was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea last week is still on ***** and may be leaking oil, the US Pentagon says.

Attempts to salvage the Greek-owned and flagged MV Sounion have been thwarted by the Houthis, who have threatened more attacks, the Pentagon adds.

The ship is carrying more than 150,000 tonnes – or one million barrels – of crude oil, and a major spill has the potential to be among the largest from a ship in recorded history.

The Iran-backed Houthis, who control much of Yemen, say they have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for 10 months in support of the Palestinians in the war between ******* and ****** in the Gaza Strip.

They have reportedly sunk two ships and ******* at least two crew members in that time.

They have claimed – often falsely – that they are targeting ships only linked to *******, the US or the ***.

The Sounion was first hit by gunfire from two small boats last Wednesday, then struck by three unidentified projectiles, which sparked a ***** and left it without engine power, the *** Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office said.

Its 25 crew members were rescued by a ********* warship a day later and transported to Djibouti.

The oil tanker was later attacked again – the Houthis posted a video purportedly showing them setting it on *****.

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expressed concern about the attacks on the Sounion. It warned of a possible spill of oil four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which released 257,000 barrels off the coast of Alaska.

On Tuesday Pentagon spokesman Maj-Gen Patrick Ryder said two tugs had been sent to salvage the stricken vessel but the Houthis had threatened to ******* them as well.

He said the US was working with partners in the region to try to mitigate any potential environmental impact.

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