CAIRO: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that three fires were raging on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea on Friday. This followed an assault by Yemeni Houthi fighters the day before, which led to the evacuation of the ship’s crew. The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populated areas, claimed responsibility for the attack as part of their ongoing campaign against commercial shipping, aimed at supporting Palestinians in the Gaza conflict.
The Sounion was initially damaged on Wednesday by repeated attacks, resulting in a fire and a loss of engine power. A European warship subsequently rescued the crew of 25, leaving the vessel uncrewed and anchored between Yemen and Eritrea.
On Friday, UKMTO reported that the tanker appeared to be drifting and was still on fire. The Houthis later shared a video on social media showing them setting the tanker ablaze.
The Sounion, carrying 150,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, poses a significant environmental threat. The EU’s Red Sea naval mission Aspides highlighted the potential for a catastrophic spill, which could severely impact the region’s marine environment. The Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority warned that a spill could have disastrous effects.
The Sounion attack is the third incident involving a Delta Tankers vessel targeted by the Houthis this month. The Houthis justified the attack by alleging that Delta Tankers violated their ban on entering ports in “occupied Palestine,” according to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree.
Delta Tankers has stated it is working to relocate the vessel and cargo but has refrained from providing further details due to security concerns.
