In Dubai, the European Union naval command reported that the Greek-flagged tanker, Sounion, is still burning after being attacked multiple times by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Despite the ongoing blaze, there has been no significant oil leakage into the waterway. The assault on the Sounion is the latest in a series of attacks by the rebels, who are targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor due to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. These attacks have disrupted about $1 trillion in trade passing through the region and have halted some aid deliveries to Sudan and Yemen.

The EU’s Operation Aspides, responsible for protecting shipping in the area, shared images showing smoke rising from various parts of the Sounion’s deck and bridge. Fires were visible in at least nine locations on the deck of the tanker, which was carrying 150,000 tons of Iraqi crude oil, equivalent to roughly 1 million barrels. Despite the fires near the tanker’s oil tanks, there have been no signs of a major oil spill so far.

The U.S. State Department also expressed concern about the environmental threat to the Red Sea, which is home to coral reefs and diverse wildlife. Video footage released by the Houthis indicated that they boarded the abandoned vessel and rigged it with explosives in an attempt to sink it. The State Department denounced the rebels’ actions, emphasizing the risk to marine life and ecosystems in the region.

The Houthis, meanwhile, justified their attack on the Sounion as a form of punishment against the company that owns the ship for violating the ban on accessing Israeli ports. Last week, the French destroyer, part of Operation Aspides, rescued the Sounion’s crew and security personnel and transported them to Djibouti after the vessel came under repeated Houthi attacks.

Since the conflict in Gaza began, the Houthis have targeted over 80 ships using missiles and drones. They seized one vessel, sank two others, and caused casualties among sailors. While the rebels claim to target ships connected to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., many of the attacked vessels have no direct link to the conflict, such as those en route to Iran. The international community is concerned about the Houthis’ actions and their impact on maritime security and the environment in the Red Sea region.