US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Sunday condemned Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen for attacking a Greek oil tanker and causing “an environmental disaster with devastating consequences for the region.”
Thomas Greenfield said The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) should “demand immediate compliance with Resolution 2722” Council Passed They passed a resolution calling for an end to Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in January 2024. The ambassador did not suggest what the UN Security Council should do if the Houthis continue to ignore the resolution.
Houthis Attacked Greek Flag Sunion The ship was attacked by pirates and drones on Wednesday and left adrift and on fire. The crew were rescued by European navies in the region and evacuated to Djibouti.
According to the European Union (EU) Naval Mission in the Red Sea: Sunion Was carry During the attack, 150,000 tons of crude oil was spilled. say The ship has been on fire since Friday, with flames spotted in nine places on the main deck and superstructure.
The EU’s mission said of Sunion This means “navigational and immediate environmental hazards,” but so far “there are no obvious signs of an oil spill.”
“This situation highlights that this type of attack is not only a threat to freedom of navigation, but also to the lives of seafarers, the environment and ultimately the lives of all civilians living in the area,” the EU delegation said.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Saturday:
Just as the Houthis have used their reckless attacks to disrupt the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the region, they have also made clear through these attacks their readiness to destroy the fishing industries and local ecosystems that Yemenis and other communities in the region rely on for their livelihoods.
The Houthis showed no signs of regret, broadcasting footage of the burning boat on Yemeni state media. Description The attack was “punishment for the shipowner’s violation of the decision banning access to the occupied Palestinian territory.” [sic]The “Israel” they speak of is Israel.
Published Videos #Houthi You can see how explosives are planted on the deck of the tanker. #Sounion Off the coast of Yemen #RedSea.
At 150,000 tonnes, the tanker is nearly twice the size of the Exxon Valdez and the environmental damage to the region will be enormous. pic.twitter.com/EfUbg5o5j9
— Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴☠️ (@mercoglianos) August 23, 2024
In the victory video, the Houthi fighters I heard They chant the slogan of their movement: “Allah is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory for Islam.”
of Sunion The ship is owned by Athens-based company Delta Tankers, whose two other ships came under attack by the Houthi rebels in early August.
Because the Houthis are not a legitimate national government and have no right under international law to blockade Israeli or other ports, they are unlikely to heed calls from the UN to respect a resolution they have ignored for nearly nine months.
