The United States has warned of a potential ecological disaster in the Red Sea following the attack by the Houthi rebel group on a tanker ship last week.
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stated on Sunday evening that the Security Council “must condemn” the Houthi group’s attack on the tanker “Delta Sounion.” According to her, “the reckless actions of the Houthi rebels threaten to create an ecological catastrophe with devastating consequences for the entire region.”
She said the UN Security Council should demand immediate compliance with the resolution passed in January, which calls on the Houthi rebels to stop attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthi group, backed by Iran, said on Thursday that the attack on the Greek tanker was made in solidarity with Palestinians due to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Rescue teams evacuated the crew of the tanker after the attack, which had caught fire.
The European maritime mission in the Red Sea reported that the tanker was carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil.
US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said on Saturday that the Houthi rebels “have made it clear that they are willing to destroy the fishing industry and regional ecosystem on which Yemenis and other communities in the region depend for their livelihoods, just as they have undermined efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the region through their reckless attacks.”
Houthi attacks have disrupted trade routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, forcing many companies to change shipping routes to longer and more expensive paths.
