Houthi Video Reveals Explosives Planted on Oil Tanker, Sparking Fears of Red Sea Oil Spill

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have released a video showing their fighters boarding and planting explosives on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, which is now at risk of causing a major oil spill in the Red Sea.

The footage, released on Thursday, captures the moments leading up to the detonation, raising serious concerns about the potential environmental impact in one of the world’s most vital maritime routes.

The Sounion, carrying approximately one million barrels of oil, was initially attacked by the Houthis on August 21. The assault involved small arms fire, projectiles, and a drone boat, forcing the crew to abandon ship. The 25-member crew, comprising Filipinos and Russians, along with four private security personnel, were later rescued by a French destroyer operating under the European Union’s Operation Aspides and transported to Djibouti.

The video shows masked Houthi fighters boarding the deserted tanker, rigging explosives on its deck, and detonating them, resulting in at least six simultaneous blasts. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have justified their actions as part of their support for Palestine, claiming to be targeting vessels connected to Israel, the US, or the UK However, many of the ships targeted in recent attacks have had little or no connection to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

This incident is part of a broader Houthi campaign that has disrupted the passage of goods through the Red Sea, a strategic waterway that transports approximately $1 trillion in goods annually. The Houthis have launched over 80 attacks on vessels since the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated in October, sinking two ships, seizing another, and causing the deaths of four sailors.

Western nations and the United Nations have expressed grave concerns about the potential environmental catastrophe that could result from an oil spill in the Red Sea. The region is home to some of the world’s most pristine coral reefs, and any spill could devastate these fragile marine ecosystems. While the European Union’s naval force in the area has yet to detect any oil leaks from the Sounion, preparations are underway to mitigate potential damage.

The UN, along with international partners, is working to secure access to the vessel and prevent an environmental disaster. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric praised the international community and UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, for their efforts to negotiate the tanker’s safe salvage. The Houthis have reportedly agreed to allow rescue operations to continue, but previous experiences indicate that the group may use such situations as leverage in broder political negotiations.

The U.S. State Department has previously warned that the Houthis’ continued attacks could result in an oil spill on a scale similar to the Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989, which released over 250,000 barrels of oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound. The potential spill from the Sounion could be four times larger, with devastating consequences for the environment and the region.

Aljazeera, Newsweek, the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to the report.