Several countries have reached out to Ansarullah, the Houthis, requesting a temporary truce to allow tugboats and rescue ships into the area affected by the recent attack on the oil tanker Sounion, according to Iran’s UN mission. “In consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns, Ansarullah has consented to this request,” the statement added.
However, a spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthis, Mohammed Abdulsalam, clarified to Reuters that there is no temporary truce. The group agreed only to allow the towing of the Sounion after several international parties contacted them.
The Sounion was hit by multiple projectiles last week off Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. The tanker is still on fire in the Red Sea and appears to be leaking oil, according to a Pentagon spokesman on Tuesday.
Houthi militants, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was part of their actions in solidarity with Palestinians in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.
Pentagon spokesman Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder revealed that a third party attempted to send two tugboats to assist with salvaging the Sounion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them.
On Wednesday, Iran’s UN mission responded, emphasizing the failure to provide aid and prevent a potential oil disaster.
