Yemen's Houthis to let salvage crews access damaged oil tanker in Red Sea

Yemen's Houthi group has agreed to permit tugboats and rescue ships to reach a damaged crude oil tanker in the Red Sea, Iran's mission to the United Nations announced on August 28.

This decision comes after the Iran-aligned militants attacked the Greek-flagged vessel, the Sounion, last week, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media sources.

The Sounion tanker, which is carrying 150,000 tonnes, or 1 million barrels, of crude oil, poses a significant environmental risk, according to shipping officials. A potential spill from the tanker could become one of the largest in recorded history.

"Several countries have reached out to ask Ansarullah (the Houthis), requesting a temporary truce for the entry of tugboats and rescue ships into the incident area," Iran's UN mission in New York stated. "In consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns, Ansarullah has consented to this request," the mission added.

However, Yemen's Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam clarified to Reuters on August 28 that there is no temporary truce. Instead, the group has only agreed to allow the towing of the Sounion after several international parties contacted them.

The Sounion was targeted last week by multiple projectiles near Yemen's port city of Hodeidah. Conflicting reports have emerged regarding whether oil is leaking from the ship. Reuters has not been able to independently verify if there is a spill or leak from the vessel.

The Houthis, who control Yemen's most densely populated regions, have claimed responsibility for the attack on the Sounion. The group initiated aerial drone and missile strikes on the Red Sea in November, which they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Over the course of more than 70 attacks, they have sunk two vessels, seized another, and caused the deaths of at least three seafarers.

On August 27, the Pentagon reported that a third party had attempted to send two tugboats to help salvage the Sounion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them.

In a statement on August 28, Iran's UN mission criticized certain countries, stating, "The failure to provide aid and prevent an oil spill in the Red Sea stems from the negligence of certain countries, rather than concerns over the possibility of being targeted."