DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An oil tanker that had been ablaze for weeks in the Red Sea due to an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has now been successfully salvaged, according to a security firm report made public on Friday.
The tanker, known as the Sounion, posed a significant environmental threat in the region, carrying one million barrels of crude oil. It was targeted and subsequently sabotaged using explosives by the Iranian-aligned Houthis as part of their ongoing campaign linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Salvage operations took several months to complete, involving towing the vessel away, extinguishing the flames, and offloading the remaining oil.
Ambrey, a private security firm that was instrumental in leading the response efforts along with a European naval force and salvagers, stated, “After three arduous weeks, the fires were put out, cargo tanks were sealed and pressurized using inert gas, leading to the declaration of the ship as safe.” The vessel was towed to Suez in early October for the removal of its cargo, which has now been accomplished successfully.
The U.S. State Department had previously expressed concerns about potential environmental disaster, warning that a spill from the Sounion could be “four times larger than the Exxon Valdez disaster” that occurred in 1989 in Alaska.
As of now, there has been no response from the Houthis, who have maintained control over Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, for more than a decade. They have been in conflict with a Saudi-led coalition that supports Yemen’s exiled government over a prolonged period.
On August 21, the Houthis first launched an assault on the Greek-flagged Sounion using small-arms fire, projectiles, and a drone boat. A French destroyer, part of Operation Aspides, undertook a rescue operation for the crew consisting of 25 individuals from the Philippines and Russia, in addition to four private security personnel, who had deserted the tanker and were transported to Djibouti.
Later, the Houthis publicized a video claiming responsibility for the bombing of the Sounion, showcasing the explosives they had planted on the vessel. This was not an isolated incident, as the rebels have a history of similarly showcasing their actions.
Since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have reportedly targeted around 100 commercial ships using missiles and drones. Their actions have led to the seizure of one vessel and the sinking of two others, resulting in the deaths of four sailors. Other projectiles and drone attacks have been intercepted by a coalition led by the U.S. in the Red Sea or have failed to reach their intended targets, which have included Western military ships as well.
The rebels assert that their targets are ships associated with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. in an attempt to end Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza. However, many vessels under attack have minimal or no connections to the ongoing conflict, with some even en route to Iran.
Although the frequency of Houthi assaults involving ships at sea has diminished in recent weeks, their launches of drones and missiles aimed at Israel continue unabated.
