A Greek-owned oil tanker targeted in an attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement has been successfully towed to safety in the Red Sea, as confirmed by an EU naval mission. The MV Sounion, which was carrying approximately one million barrels of crude oil, was abandoned by its crew following missile strikes on August 21. Subsequent explosions onboard, attributed to Houthi fighters, ignited several fires.
Latest reports indicate that vessels engaged in the salvage operation were supported by a warship. While the tanker’s next destination remains undisclosed, there are indications that assistance from Saudi Arabia has been offered for the offloading of its oil.
Operation Aspides of the EU emphasized that the successful completion of this phase was due to collaborative efforts among stakeholders aimed at preventing an environmental crisis impacting the entire region. A potential spill from the Sounion could surpass that of the infamous 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which devastated 2,100 kilometers of coastline in Alaska.
Following international outreach, the Houthis had permitted the towing of the Sounion from Yemen, reiterating their resolve to target ships that breach Yemen’s maritime embargo. Their aggressive actions have included repeated assaults on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, resulting in the sinking of two vessels and casualties among crew members.
The Houthis claim their operations are in solidarity with Palestinians in the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Hamas. Despite assertions that they only target vessels associated with Israel, the US, or the UK, they have shown no signs of being dissuaded by the presence of Western warships or military operations against their holdings in north-western Yemen.
In a related incident, the Houthis announced the downing of a US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone in Yemen’s Dhamar province, releasing footage of what they assert is the drone’s wreckage. The US military has acknowledged awareness of the Houthi claim.
