UNITED NATIONS/ADEN, Aug 28 (Reuters) – Yemen’s Houthi group has agreed to allow tugboats and rescue ships to reach a damaged crude oil tanker in the Red Sea, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said on Wednesday, after the Iran-aligned militants attacked the Greek-flagged vessel last week.
The Sounion tanker is carrying 150,000 tonnes, or 1 million barrels, of crude oil and poses an environmental hazard, shipping officials said.
Any spill has the potential to be among the largest from a ship in recorded history.
Yemen’s Houthis spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam told Reuters on Wednesday there is no temporary truce and the group only agreed to allow the towing of oil tanker Sounion after several international parties contacted the group.
The Sounion was targeted last week by multiple projectiles off Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah.
Reuters has not independently confirmed if the oil is leaking or spilling from the vessel.
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, said they attacked the Sounion.
The militants began aerial drone and missile strikes on the Red Sea in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
The Pentagon said on Tuesday a third party had tried to send two tugs to help salvage the Sounion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them.
Reporting by Michelle Nichols and Mohamed Ghobari; Additional reporting by Yomna Ehab and Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Katharine Jackson, Jonathan Oatis and Richard Chang
UNITED NATIONS/ADEN, Aug. 28 (Reuters) – Following an attack on the Greek-flagged vessel last week by militants aligned with Iran, the Houthi group in Yemen has consented to allow tugboats and rescue ships to reach a damaged crude oil tanker in the Red Sea, Iran’s mission to the UN said on Wednesday.
Shipping authorities stated that the Sounion tanker, which is transporting 150,000 tonnes, or 1 million barrels, of crude oil, presents a risk to the environment. Any spill from a ship could be one of the biggest in history.
A temporary truce to allow tugboats and rescue ships to enter the incident area has been requested by a number of countries, according to Iran’s U.S. N. . mission in New York stated.
It said, “Ansarullah has agreed to this request in consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns.”.
There is no temporary ceasefire, according to Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesman for the Houthis in Yemen, who spoke with Reuters on Wednesday. The group only consented to the towing of the oil tanker Sounion after being contacted by multiple foreign parties.
Several projectiles were fired at the Sounion last week off the port of Hodeidah in Yemen. Reports regarding oil leaking from the ship appear to be contradicting one another. It has not been independently verified by Reuters whether oil is seeping or spilling from the ship.
The Houthis, who rule over the most populated areas of Yemen, claimed responsibility for the Sounion attack. In November, the militants launched aerial drone and missile strikes over the Red Sea, claiming to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s conflict with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. They have killed at least three seafarers, seized another vessel, and sunk two in more than 70 attacks.
According to the Pentagon, on Tuesday, a third party attempted to send two tugs to assist in saving the Sounion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them.
Wednesday, Iran’s U.S. Embassy issued a statement. Not N. mission stated that “a lack of action by some countries, rather than worries about possible terrorism, is the reason behind the inability to deliver aid and stop an oil spill in the Red Sea.”. “. .
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Editing by Katharine Jackson, Jonathan Oatis, and Richard Chang; additional reporting by Yomna Ehab and Lisa Baertlein; reporting by Michelle Nichols and Mohamed Ghobari.
