A Greek-flagged tanker, the Sounion, has been the target of repeated attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Despite sustaining significant damage and being engulfed in flames, the vessel has not experienced a major oil leak, according to a European Union naval command.
The attack on the Sounion is the latest in a series of assaults by the rebels, who have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. These attacks have disrupted trade amounting to $1 trillion that typically passes through the region and have also impacted aid shipments to conflict-affected regions like Sudan and Yemen.
Images released by the EU's Operation Aspides show smoke rising from multiple points on the Sounion's deck and bridge. Fires were observed in at least nine different locations on the vessel, which was carrying 150,000 tons of Iraqi crude oil. Fortunately, there have been no signs of an oil spill so far.
The U.S. State Department has also expressed concerns about the ecological risks posed by the situation in the Red Sea, a vital marine ecosystem home to coral reefs and diverse wildlife. The Houthis, who have claimed responsibility for the attack, have been accused of attempting to sink the vessel by rigging it with explosives.
The crew of the Sounion, consisting of 25 Filipinos, Russians, and four private security personnel, was rescued by a French destroyer operating as part of Operation Aspides. The Houthis have targeted over 80 vessels with missiles and drones since the conflict in Gaza began, with the aim of pressuring Israel to halt its campaign against Hamas.
While the rebels claim to target ships associated with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., many of the vessels attacked have had minimal or no connection to the ongoing conflict. The international community remains vigilant in addressing these attacks and safeguarding maritime security in the region.
