Houthis Agree to Temporary Truce for Oil Tanker Rescue

The Yemen's Houthi group has agreed to a temporary truce to allow tugboats and rescue ships to reach the damaged Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea. The tanker was attacked off Yemen's port city of Hodeidah and is leaking oil, with environmental concerns escalating.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has agreed to a temporary truce, permitting tugboats and rescue ships to tend to the damaged Greek-flagged crude oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea, according to Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York.

The Sounion caught fire after being hit by multiple projectiles off Yemen's port city of Hodeidah last week, and is currently leaking oil, raising environmental concerns. The Houthis have been attacking ships in solidarity with Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam stated that no formal truce exists and the agreement merely allows the towing of the Sounion. Meanwhile, the Pentagon indicated that the Houthis threatened to attack two tugboats sent by a third party to assist the tanker.

Iran's U.N. mission accused other countries of negligence in preventing an oil spill in the Red Sea, asserting that delays in aid were not due to targeting concerns.

(With inputs from agencies.)