Oil pollution detected off Yemen's Al Hudaydah coast

Extensive oil pollution has been detected in the maritime corridors leading to the Ras Issa and Salif ports in the Al Hudaydah governorate, Yemen. Satellite imagery from recent weeks shows large oil slicks near the islands of Aqban and Al-Buday'ah, with a significant patch appearing north of Al-Buday'ah on August 19.

Experts suggest the pollution is linked to ship-to-ship oil transfer operations involving “dark vessels”—tankers that disable their navigational tracking systems to evade detection. Monitoring data indicates that tankers carrying Russian oil from the Mediterranean have been observed turning off their tracking signals while heading toward the coast of Al Hudaydah. On August 29, three such dark tankers were reportedly observed transferring oil to other vessels near Ras Issa port, which is under Houthi control.

These recurring incidents have raised serious environmental concerns regarding the impact on marine life, coastal areas, and the livelihoods of local fishermen in the Red Sea.