Houthi terrorists, backed by Iran, have destroyed yet another oil tanker in the Red Sea this week. In March, a similar event took place, and this week’s attack is the third large commercial ship that the Islamic terrorist group has destroyed during the past year.
The attack on the Sounion occurred Wednesday. The tanker was was first hit by gunfire from small boats that approached it near the Yemeni port of Hudaydah, said the UK Maritime Trade Operations office.
Later, the ship was struck by three unidentified projectiles and fire broke out on board. At that point the engine was disabled and the crew evacuated, prior to a massive explosion, which was recorded by Houthis. The video was released Friday.
There was said to be 150,000 tons of crude oil on board, which is three times the amount that was carried by the Exxon Valdez when it struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989, spilling nearly 11 million gallons into the Sound, the equivalent of about 39,000 metric tons.
The Houthi terrorists support Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Although U.S. warships are in the region, it has not fully deterred them. The nearby port of Hudaydah was subjected to a missile attack by Israel last month in retaliation for a drone strike on the city of Tel Aviv.
The Sounion was transporting oil from the Iraqi port of Basra.
