The burning of the Greek-owned Suezmax tanker Sounion in the Red Sea, caused by Houthi forces, is threatening to trigger an environmental catastrophe.
Two days after the cargo tanks were destroyed, flames from the vessel remain visible from space, according to images from the EU’s Sentinel satellite system. Experts warn that the resulting oil spill could be up to four times larger than the infamous Exxon Valdez disaster, posing severe risks to the environment and subsistence fisheries in the region.
The U.S. State Department issued a stark warning, emphasizing the potential for widespread ecological damage. “While the crew has been evacuated, the Houthis appear determined to sink the ship and its cargo into the sea,” the statement read. “These attacks threaten to destroy the fishing industry and regional ecosystems that are crucial for the livelihoods of Yemenis and other communities.”
Echoing these concerns, the European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea, EUNAVFOR Aspides, highlighted the broader risks to freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers. “This situation underscores the dangers such attacks pose not only to the environment but also to the lives of all citizens in the region,” the EU mission stated.
A Houthi spokesperson did not address the environmental implications, stating only that the attack was in response to the shipowner’s alleged decision to continue operations to Israeli seaports. The Houthi militia has declared a naval blockade on Israeli-affiliated shipping due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, though they have previously attacked vessels without clear Israeli connections.
