Information Minister criticizes Houthi leaders’ statements on the “Safer” tanker incident as unprecedentedly brazen and dishonest.

Houthi Actions Under Scrutiny

Yemen’s Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Muammar al-Eryani, has vehemently criticized the Houthi militia’s recent statements regarding the Greek oil tanker, MT DELTA SOUNION. The Iran-aligned group claimed they allowed the withdrawal of the troubled tanker to prevent an environmental disaster, a move they depicted as praiseworthy. Al-Eryani condemned these statements as an unprecedented display of audacity, deceit, and moral degradation by the criminal militia.

A Series of Reckless Attacks

In a press statement, al-Eryani detailed a series of aggressive attacks by the Houthi militia on the tanker, which was en route from Iraq carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil through the Red Sea. The vessel, manned by a diverse crew including Russians, Filipinos, Indians, and a Nepalese, was targeted with the intention of sinking it. Despite the crew’s refusal to comply with the Houthis’ demands for a security interrogation and boarding, and their attempts to repel the attackers, the militia opened fire. The tanker managed to evade capture through evasive maneuvers after the initial assault and two subsequent attacks involving RPGs and drone strikes, which inflicted significant damage and rendered it uncontrollable.

French Naval Intervention and Houthi Sabotage

Al-Eryani further reported that the French warship FS Chevalier Paul intervened on Thursday, August 22, to evacuate the crew. Despite the French navy’s success in thwarting drone and boat bomb attacks by the Houthis, the tanker, now abandoned, was left adrift and at risk of sinking and causing a major oil spill. The situation worsened on Friday, August 23, when Houthi elements boarded the vessel, planted explosives, and initiated fires that have persisted in critical areas of the tanker.

Environmental and Economic Threats

The minister highlighted the broader implications of such attacks, emphasizing the dire environmental and economic consequences of a potential oil spill in the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. These actions not only threaten Yemen’s coastal and marine ecosystems but also its economic sectors, including the fishing industry that sustains millions of Yemenis.

International Response Urged

Al-Eryani accused the Houthi militia of acting as a proxy for Iran, disregarding the political, economic, and humanitarian conditions in Yemen. He criticized the international community’s failure to address the threats posed by the militia to maritime security and global trade. The minister called for urgent international action to designate the Houthi militia as a global terrorist organization, impose sanctions, and enhance legal and intelligence cooperation to counter their activities.

In a landscape marked by conflict and environmental peril, the international community’s response to these provocations remains critical for regional stability and the safety of international maritime routes.

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