Fires erupted on Friday on a Greek-flagged oil tanker that had been recently attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The oil tanker, named Sounion, had been abandoned by its crew the day before and was reportedly anchored in place at the time. The cause of the fire on the vessel remains unclear.
The Houthis, who are believed to be behind the attack, have not yet acknowledged the fire. The rebels have been targeting ships in the Red Sea as part of their ongoing campaign against shipping due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the fires on the Sounion, stating that the vessel was drifting at sea.
The oil tanker, which had a crew of 25 Filipinos and Russians along with four private security personnel, was safely evacuated to Djibouti by a French destroyer, according to the EU’s Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea. With 150,000 tons of crude oil onboard, the Sounion poses a significant navigational and environmental risk in the area.
The Houthis have targeted over 80 vessels using missiles and drones since the conflict began in October. Their attacks have resulted in the sinking of two ships and the seizure of one vessel, leading to casualties among sailors. While the rebels claim to target ships associated with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., many of the attacked vessels have no apparent connection to the conflict.
Amid escalating tensions, the U.S. military has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to the region, with additional forces including the USS Georgia-guided missile submarine and F-22 fighter jets being sent as a precaution. The situation in the Red Sea remains tense, necessitating caution from all parties to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of vessels in the area.
