A Greek-owned and flagged oil tanker, the Sounion, is currently on fire and adrift in the Red Sea after a series of attacks, according to British and Greek authorities. The vessel was first hit by gunfire from two small boats early on Wednesday, followed by three unidentified projectiles which caused a fire onboard and left it without engine power. Fortunately, all 25 crew members are reported to be safe.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Greece’s minister of maritime affairs has condemned them as a violation of international law. The Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has a history of targeting commercial shipping in the region, claiming to support Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Sounion, a “Suezmax” tanker carrying crude oil from Iraq, sustained minor damage according to its Greek operator, Delta Tankers. The crew is currently assessing the situation before continuing their journey. In a separate incident on the same day, the Panama-flagged cargo vessel SW North Wind I reported three explosions in the Gulf of Aden but the crew is safe and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call.
This latest attack comes after the sinking of the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned cargo ship Tutor in June, where one crew member was killed by a sea drone operated by the Houthis. The ongoing threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden highlight the volatile situation in the region.
