DUBAI: Yemeni Minister of Information Mua’mar Al-Iryani reiterated the Houthi’s “full accountability” over the decaying Safer oil tanker off the coast of Hodeidah, state news agency Saba News reported.

Al-Iryani said new photos of the tanker, which holds a million barrels of crude oil, showed water leaking into the vessel that might cause an explosion – an “environmental catastrophe” for Yemen and neighboring countries.

The Houthis have blocked attempts of the United Nations to access and inspect the long-stranded oil tanker.

The Yemeni minister called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take urgent action to avoid a looming disaster and to stop the Houthis from using the issue as a political weapon.

Meanwhile, a number of tribesmen’s houses in Marib have been bombarded by the Houthis, Saba reported.

Local sources said the house of a prominent social figure from the Al Firas Tribe in Sirwah District wasrecently  targeted by the group.

The militia, the report added, had  resorted  to the systematic bombing of houses of its rivals.