Video: Houthis capture Greek oil tanker in Red Sea

The Houthi group in Yemen has released a video showcasing their fighters boarding the oil tanker Sounion and detonating explosives on the ship, which they previously targeted in the Red Sea earlier this month.

The released footage, which came out on Thursday, has heightened international concerns about the possibility of a significant oil spill from the Greek-flagged vessel, which carries nearly one million barrels of crude oil. Such an incident could have disastrous environmental consequences and pose substantial risks to navigation in the area.

Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Houthi military, claimed that the Sounion was attacked because it belonged to a company that had “violated” the blockade imposed by the Houthi group on ships heading to Israel in the Red Sea. The Houthis, presenting themselves as Yemen’s armed forces, have been targeting what they believe to be vessels with connections to Israel as a means to pressure Israel into ending its military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in the loss of over 40,600 Palestinian lives.

In addition to targeting Israel-linked ships, the group has expanded its attacks to include vessels associated with the United States and the United Kingdom, following the military campaign launched by these countries in January to counter Houthi assaults on regional shipping routes.

The video includes drone footage of the ship’s exterior, a walk-through of its cockpit, and scenes depicting a fighter armed with an automatic weapon on board. The footage concludes with a series of explosions on the tanker’s surface, though it does not show any damage to the ship’s core where the oil is stored.

The timing of when the video was recorded remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether it will affect the ongoing efforts to safely tow the Sounion and prevent an oil spill. The tanker was initially attacked on August 22, and its crew was evacuated on the same day.

Earlier on Thursday, the European Union’s military mission in the Red Sea reported “multiple fires” on various parts of the ship’s main deck. However, they confirmed that the vessel is still anchored and that no oil has spilled.

“The Red Sea is not only a crucial sea route for global transportation, but also a unique marine ecosystem that is now at risk of potential pollution,” stated the EU mission, Operation Aspides, in a social media post. The European Union is actively involved in diplomatic efforts to facilitate the salvage of the Sounion.

This week, the United States also announced that it is closely monitoring the situation, with a particular emphasis on the apparent leakage of oil from the tanker.