Pentagon blasts Houthis for striking oil tanker, creating 'environmental disaster'

The Pentagon on Thursday blasted Houthi rebels for striking an oil tanker and creating an "environmental disaster" in the Red Sea after the merchant vessel was lit ablaze with a million barrels of crude oil on board.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters the Houthis striking the Greek-owned merchant vessel Sounion on Wednesday was threatening a "catastrophe" in Yemen's backyard.

"That is an environmental disaster that they are going to have to deal with," she said, also slamming the group's motives in the attack. "What exactly does this accomplish? They said they were launching these attacks to help the people of Gaza, not sure how that helps anyone in Gaza."

The Houthi attack on the Sounion sparked a fire that was extinguished, but it also led to engine failure, forcing the crew to evacuate to Djibouti.

The European Union naval military operation in the Red Sea said in a post on the social platform X that the Sounion, carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil, now represents a "navigational and environmental hazard."

In a Thursday statement shared on pro-Iranian media channels, the Houthis claimed the Sounion entered Israel, violating their so-called ban on entering Israeli ports.

In a campaign that has lasted some 10 months, the Houthis have sunk at least two ships and damaged at least two others, while killing three sailors.

The Iranian-backed group that controls most of Yemen say they are targeting ships in the Red Sea that are linked to Israel in a bid to support the Palestinian people in Gaza, where Israeli forces are waging a major war against Hamas.

In the statement Thursday, the Houthis said they "will not cease until the aggression is stopped and the siege on our brothers in the Gaza Strip is lifted."

The U.S. Navy is leading a major operation to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea and has defeated the vast majority of Houthi attacks, which are fired almost daily. The U.S. is also carrying out strikes to target Houthi assets.

Still, more than half a year of fighting has failed to deter the Houthis or degrade their capabilities enough to stop the attacks.

Singh said Thursday that the U.S. has been successful in meeting its mission objectives, even if it remains a challenge.

"Yes they have gotten a few attacks through," she said. "But we have been able to degrade their capabilities over time and we have been able to protect ships that transit the Red Sea through our alliance [and] it's not for nothing."