Houthis launch footage of fighters boarding Greek oil tanker in Pink Sea | Houthis Information

The video seems to indicate a sequence of explosions on the floor of the vessel, amid fears of a serious oil spill.

Yemen’s Houthis have launched a video that seems to indicate their fighters boarding the oil tanker Sounion and detonating explosives on the ship that the group beforehand attacked within the Pink Sea earlier this month.

The footage launched on Thursday comes amid worldwide worry of a serious oil spill from the Greek-flagged vessel that would trigger an environmental disaster and pose a danger to navigation within the area. The ship is carrying practically a million barrels of crude oil.

Houthi navy spokesperson Yahya Saree stated on Thursday that Sounion belonged to an organization that had “violated” the blockade introduced by the Yemeni group towards Israel-bound ships within the Pink Sea.

The Houthis, who current themselves as Yemen’s armed forces, have been concentrating on what they declare are Israel-linked vessels – an effort that they are saying goals to stress the Israeli authorities to finish the struggle in Gaza, which has killed greater than 40,600 Palestinians.

The Yemeni group additionally began attacking ships linked to the US and United Kingdom after the 2 nations launched a navy marketing campaign in January to finish the Houthis’ assaults on delivery lanes within the area.

The video seems to indicate drone footage of the outside of the ship and a walkthrough of its cockpit earlier than that includes a fighter holding an automated weapon on board. It concludes with a sequence of explosions on the floor of the tanker.

The footage didn’t present injury to the core of the ship the place the oil is saved.

It’s not clear when the video was shot or whether or not it would have an effect on efforts to tow the ship to avert an oil spill. Sunion was first attacked on August 22 and its crew was evacuated the identical day.

Earlier on Thursday, the European Union’s navy mission within the Pink Sea stated that “a number of fires have been detected in a number of places on the primary deck of the vessel.”

But it surely added that the ship stays anchored, confirming that there was no oil spill from the tanker.

“The Pink Sea is just not solely one of many main sea routes for world transport but additionally a singular marine ecosystem, now below menace from potential air pollution,” the mission, dubbed Operation Aspides, stated in a social media put up.

“The European Union, by diplomatic efforts and engagements, is taking part in an important position in facilitating the salvage of MV [merchant vessel] Sounion.”

Earlier this week, the US stated that its forces within the area are additionally monitoring the state of affairs, stressing that the tanker seemed to be leaking oil.

“We’re conscious of a 3rd celebration that tried to ship two tugs to the vessel to assist salvage, however they have been warned away by the Houthis,” Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder informed reporters on Tuesday.

However Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam stated on Wednesday the group had communicated with “worldwide events” to permit for the vessel to be pulled away.

Abdulsalam added that the concentrating on of Sunion demonstrates the Houthis’ “seriousness” in implementing their Pink Sea ban on ships linked to Israel “to stress the enemy Zionist entity to finish its aggression towards Gaza”.

Final month, Israel struck Yemen’s port metropolis of Hodeidah, killing at the very least six folks in response to a Houthi drone assault that killed one individual in Tel Aviv.

The Houthis have promised to retaliate for the bombing, however they haven’t launched a serious assault towards Israel previously weeks.