Pentagon: Oil leaking from tanker "Sunion" recently attacked by Houthis off Hodeidah

The Greek-flagged crude oil tanker Sunion, which was recently attacked by Houthi rebels in Yemen, is still ablaze in the Red Sea and appears to be leaking oil, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday.

Last week, the ship Sunion was hit by multiple shells off the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.

Reuters quoted Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder as saying that a third party tried to send two tugs to help rescue the Sunion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them.

He did not identify the “third party,” but said the Houthis’ actions showed “a blatant disregard not only for human life, but also for the potential environmental catastrophe that could result.”

He added that the US Central Command is monitoring the situation to determine the best ways to assist the ship Sunion, which is loaded with 136,000 tons of Iraqi crude oil, and mitigate any environmental impact.

But at present, there are no US Navy ships in the Red Sea or near the Gulf of Aden.

“These reckless acts of terrorism continue to destabilize global and regional trade, endanger the lives of innocent civilian seafarers, and jeopardize the vibrant maritime system in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Houthis’ backyard,” Ryder added.

The Sunion was the third ship operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers to be attacked in the Red Sea this month. The attack caused a fire on board, which the crew managed to extinguish, Delta Tankers said in a statement.