Egypt Daily News – The British Maritime Trade Operations Center reported that a Greek-flagged oil tanker named “Sounion” was set ablaze following an attack by the Yemeni “Ansar Allah” (Houthis) movement earlier this week. Although the crew abandoned the vessel on Thursday, the tanker remains anchored at sea.
The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the fires, but there are suspicions they may have attacked an additional ship, which subsequently sank.
This incident is part of a broader series of attacks related to the ongoing Israeli conflict in Gaza, which has disrupted a significant trade route valued at approximately a trillion dollars annually.
In a report, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center indicated that three fires were detected aboard the Sounion, which is still afloat.
The European Union’s Aspids naval mission stated that the tanker is carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil, thereby posing serious navigational and environmental risks. The crew consisted of 25 Filipino and Russian members, along with four private security personnel who were evacuated to Djibouti by a French destroyer.
The situation remains tense, with the Houthis having targeted over 80 vessels with missiles and drones since the outbreak of the war in Gaza last October, capturing one ship and sinking two others. The mission has urged all parties in the region to exercise caution to avoid escalating the situation further.
