The European Union's naval mission announced that the fire on the Greek oil tanker, which was targeted by Houthi attacks last week in the Red Sea, continues and poses an environmental threat to the region. The EU naval mission in the Red Sea, SPIDIS, released images on Monday showing the tanker ablaze in various locations. According to SPIDIS, the fire is visible in at least five spots on the deck of the tanker, seemingly around the tank hatches. The Greek tanker Sounion, carrying 150,000 tons (over one million barrels), was hit by multiple Houthi attacks supported by the Islamic Republic near the port of Hodeidah last Wednesday, resulting in a fire. Delta Tankers, the owner of the vessel, reported the next day that the crew had been evacuated from the ship. The EU naval mission also stated that the tanker remains in its previous location in international waters, but no evidence of oil leakage into the sea has been observed yet. In recent days, multiple warnings have been issued regarding the significant environmental risk if oil from the ship spills into the Red Sea. The Pentagon spokesperson emphasized a few days ago that the responsibility for the environmental disaster lies with the Iran-backed Houthis, stating that 'they themselves will have to grapple with this disaster.' The EU naval mission warned on Monday that the tanker poses an imminent environmental hazard and a threat to maritime navigation, urging passing vessels to exercise caution. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack on the tanker and released a video of the firing at it, which Reuters has confirmed as authentic. This is the third ship from the Greek company Delta Tankers that has been targeted in the Red Sea this August; the other two were Delta Blue and Delta Atlantica. The Houthi rebels have conducted dozens of attacks on passing ships in the region over the past months, claiming to support Palestinians in Gaza. These attacks have resulted in the sinking of two ships and the deaths of three crew members. On Monday, British maritime trade operations reported receiving a message from a commercial ship in the waters south of Mokha about an approaching unmanned boat accompanied by two small boats. The missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have severely disrupted traffic in the Red Sea, which accounts for about 12% of global trade. Meanwhile, on Monday, following heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, oil prices rose by about 2%, with the price of Brent crude for October delivery reaching around $81 per barrel.
Fire on Greek Oil Tanker Targeted by Houthis Continues
A fire continues to burn on a Greek oil tanker attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, posing significant environmental risks. The Pentagon has attributed responsibility for potential environmental disasters to the Houthis, who have claimed the attack. This incident highlights ongoing maritime security threats in the region and impacts global trade.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A Greek oil tanker was set ablaze by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, posing environmental and navigational risks. The tanker remains in international waters with no oil leakage reported yet.
- The tanker was carrying over one million barrels of oil.
- This is the third attack on a Delta Tankers vessel in the Red Sea this August.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Houthis, backed by Iran, have been engaged in a prolonged conflict in Yemen, often extending their reach to maritime targets in the Red Sea.
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