Oil Tanker Sounion Engulfed in Flames after Houthi Attack
The Greek-flagged oil tanker, Sounion, became the target of a severe attack by Houthi rebels near Hodeida on August 21 while transporting a massive payload of 150,000 metric tons of crude oil. Describing the gravity of the situation via social media platform X, CENTCOM revealed, “salvage efforts are underway” in the southern Red Sea for the stricken tanker, which remains engulfed in flames, posing a significant risk of a catastrophic environmental disaster.
The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the assault, stating that they had rigged and detonated explosives on the oil tanker. The US Central Command has labeled these Houthi attacks as “reckless,” underscoring the importance of international cooperation to shield trade routes and minimize environmental impacts in this volatile region.
EU Naval Mission Steps Up
The European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, has also stepped into action, affirming via a post on X that it would “provide protection to the tugboats handling the salvage operation,” thereby aiding efforts to avert an environmental disaster. Aspides reported that “several fires continue to burn on the vessel’s main deck,” but fortunately, there were “no visible signs of an oil spill” detected.
The 25-member crew of the Sounion, consisting of 23 Filipinos and two Russians, was heroically rescued the day after the attack by a French frigate serving with the Aspides mission. Formed in February, the EU naval force in the Red Sea aims to protect merchant vessels from frequent attacks perpetrated by Houthi rebels. These militants justify their actions as a demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinian group Hamas, embroiled in conflict with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Additional Attacks Heighten Regional Tensions
Adding to the regional turbulence, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that two more ships were targeted in similar assaults off the coast of Yemen on Monday. According to CENTCOM, both affected vessels were crude oil tankers – one flagged by Panama and the other by Saudi Arabia, the latter of which was laden with approximately two million barrels of crude oil.
As efforts to contain the fires and salvage the Sounion continue, international maritime security forces remain on high alert to prevent further disruptions in this critical maritime corridor, where the potential for an environmental and economic crisis looms large.
