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Hundreds of Tons of US Oil Threatened to Spill into the Sea Due to Tanker Attack by Houthis

Holiday Ayo - A Greek-flagged tanker carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil caught fire after being attacked by Yemen's Houthi militia in the Red Sea. 

Efforts to rescue the Greek-owned and flagged MV Sounion have been thwarted by the Houthis, who the Pentagon says are threatening more attacks. 

 

The Iran-backed Houthis, who control most of Yemen, say they have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for 10 months in an effort to support Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 

 

Yamen's Houthi rebels have reportedly sunk two ships and killed at least two crew members during that time. The Houthis say they only target ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK. 

 

Sounion was first hit by gunfire from two small vessels last Wednesday, then hit by three unknown projectiles, which sparked a fire and left the ship without engine power, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) office said. 

 

The 25 crew members were rescued by a European warship a day later and transported to Djibouti. The oil tanker was then attacked again, with the Houthis posting a video reportedly showing them setting it on fire. 

 

A US State Department statement on Saturday expressed concern about the attack on Sounion. The report also warned of the possibility of an oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which released 257,000 barrels off the coast of Alaska. 

 

On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder said two ships that would have been sent for the rescue had been delayed amid threats from the Houthis. 

 

He said the US is working with their partners in the region to try to reduce potential environmental impacts.

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