(Maj Gen Harvijay Singh, SM)

I have scored out the news because I am surprised with what Pentagon (Defence HQs of USA) says. They appear as helpless against the Houthis as is Iran against Israel.

MV Sounion is carrying more than 150,000 tonnes – or one million barrels – of crude oil ……… OMG …….. and a major spill hasthe potential to be among the largest from a ship in recorded history!!!!

The 274-meter-long (As big as a 400 M Internation Standard Athletics Stadium) oil tanker MV Sounion, was targeted by Houthi militants while near the mouth of the Red Sea On 21 Aug ….. Nine days back. It has been drifting since and the world’s Navies have been watching the spectacle. The crew had abandoned the ship but there were no reports of spillage so far.

The ‘mighty’ Houthis felt that the spectacle without a bigger fire and spillage was not good enough. So, eight hours ago, the Houthi placed explosives on board the drifting environmental catastrophe. They filmed themselves placing and detonating the explosives. There were six simultaneous explosions, and the tanker is now ablaze.

What use are the ‘five star’ international environmental organizations and movements? What use are the world navies boasting of patrolling the Red Sea? What were they all doing for the last Nine days ………. waiting for the Houthis to cremate the ailing tanker at sea?

It may be prudent for the worldwide Merchant Vessel Corporations to seek protection from the Houthis.

And,for the citizens to seek answers from their governments on their environmental protection agendas and expenditures on ‘Blue Water Navies’.And,

For the Houthis to sell Live Red Sea War tourism. Which could first hand show case world navies in a ‘Watch from a Distance’ mode. The Houthis could also set up an ‘Asymmetric Warfare Academy’ to carry out realistic training on Asymmetric Warfare.

Meanwhile in a big setback to Israel, Namibia refused to allow a Portuguese-flagged ship to dock in its water. Namibia said the decision was taken after investigations found that the vessel was carrying explosive material to be used by Israel in war torn Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile the Iranians continue to fire from their proxies’ shoulders while they nurse their sour throats from shouting, shouting and shouting at Israel over the social media.

An interesting quote on the Red Sea: The recent history of the Red Sea reads like a macabre thriller, from industrial-scale hostage-taking by pirates to tit-for-tat naval attacks between Israel and Iran in international waters to unchecked drug and arms smuggling, Nicholas W. Stephenson Smith (a researcher and writer on African history and politics) wrote in 2021, two and a half years before the current Red Sea crisis.

Finally, a question comes to mind – on whose assurance and what insurance are the Merchant Vessels still venturing into the Red Sea?