By Al-Fassel | 2024-08-27

With their latest attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Iran-backed Houthis have once again put their own country and the rest of the region at risk of an environmental disaster.

The Houthis, who receive arms and funding from the Iranian regime, struck the Greek-flagged Sounion oil tanker August 21 off the coast of al-Hodeidah as it transported 150,000 tons of crude oil from Iraq to Greece.

The European Union's Aspides naval mission rescued the crew, warning the abandoned vessel posed "a navigational and environmental hazard."

"The Houthis' continued attacks threaten to spill a million barrels of oil into the Red Sea," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said August 24.

"While the crew has been evacuated, the Houthis appear determined to sink the ship and its cargo into the sea."

"Through these attacks, the Houthis have made clear they are willing to destroy the fishing industry and regional ecosystems that Yemenis and other communities in the region rely on for their livelihoods," he said.

The group also has "undermined the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the region through their reckless attacks," Miller said.

Environmental damage

In March, the Houthis attacked the Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated Rubymar, which sank in the Red Sea with 21,000 tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer on board.

In June, the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Tutor sank after being struck by the Houthis.

The Houthis also have come under fire for their handling of the FSO Safer -- a corroding oil tanker moored in the Red Sea -- repeatedly obstructing access to the vessel in an effort to use it as a political bargaining chip.

"Once again, the Houthis have attacked a ship that is carrying oil and that could likely spill into the Red Sea, creating an environmental disaster," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said August 22.

The Houthis "just created an environmental disaster right outside their own home country. Like, what purpose does that serve? That is going to have lasting impacts. And they've done that before," Singh said.

"I mean, what kind of impact does that have for the region?"

Operation Prosperity Guardian

The Houthis "still maintain a robust arsenal, but we have been able to degrade their capabilities over time and we have been able to protect ships that transit the Red Sea with our alliance through Operation Prosperity Guardian," Singh said.

"We've hit over 150 launchers," she said.

"While [the Houthis] continue to launch attacks, we have ensured that shipping has continued through those shipping lanes [...] We want to see it protected. That's why you have Operation Prosperity Guardian."