Efforts to reach and assist a Greek-flagged tanker burning in the Red Sea have been hampered by Houthi rebels, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
Pentagon spokesman U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the U.S. was “aware of a third party attempting to send two tugboats to the burning tanker to assist in the rescue effort, but they were warned off by the Houthis and threatened with attack.”
He did not specify who the third party was, but said the Houthis' actions showed “a blatant disregard not only for human life, but also for the potential environmental damage.”
“The MV Delta Sounion is now crippled in the Red Sea and is on fire and appears to be leaking oil. This is a hazard to navigation and has the potential to be an environmental disaster,” Ryder said.
“Although the Houthis claim they carried out this attack in support of the Palestinian people, their actions have proven to be the opposite. In fact, this is simply an arbitrary act of terrorism, which will shake global trade and the region,” he added.
Ryder added that US Central Command was continuing to monitor the situation to determine how best to assist the Sounion, which is carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil from Iraq, and mitigate its potential environmental impact.
There are currently no US Navy ships in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden. (jm/ab)
