An oil tanker flying the Greek flag, carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil, has become an environmental hazard after being attacked in the Red Sea. The Sounion oil tanker, with a crew of 25, was targeted by projectiles and arms fire, leaving the vessel damaged and without engine power.
The crew was successfully rescued by a vessel from Eunavfor Aspides, a European Union maritime security operation. The damaged tanker is currently anchored between Yemen and Eritrea, awaiting a plan to be moved to a safer location for further assessment and repairs.
The attack occurred when two small craft carrying around 13 to 15 individuals approached the tanker in the early hours of the morning. A brief exchange of small arms fire took place, followed by the vessel being hit by at least three projectiles.
All crew members are reported to be in good health, although the ship has sustained material damage. The 150,000 tons of crude oil on board now pose a significant navigational and environmental threat in the region, according to Eunavfor Aspides.
The crew was safely transported to Djibouti, the nearest safe port, after the EU naval crew destroyed an Unmanned Surface Vessel that posed a threat to the ship and its crew. The perpetrators behind the attack have not been identified.
Greece's shipping ministry condemned the attack as a violation of international law and a serious threat to international navigation safety. The incident adds to a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, with Iran-backed Houthi militants escalating their assaults in response to regional conflicts.
