A Greek-flagged oil tanker, the Sounion, was left adrift and ablaze in the Red Sea on Wednesday after coming under repeated attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The vessel, owned by Greece’s Delta Tankers, was en route from Iraq to Cyprus when it was assaulted approximately 77 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center.
The attack began with small arms fire from men on two small boats, followed by four projectiles hitting the ship, resulting in a fire that disabled the tanker. The Sounion reported that it was “not under command,” indicating a loss of power, and was subsequently seen drifting while still on fire. Despite the severity of the situation, no casualties were reported, though one crew member sustained minor injuries.
Photo from inside the Oil Tanker “Sounion” drifting in the Red Sea after beeing hit at least 3 times. https://t.co/cuTKJjxqF3 pic.twitter.com/igP46Dbeod
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) August 21, 2024
The assault on the Sounion is part of a broader campaign by the Houthis, who have increasingly targeted vessels in the Red Sea amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The rebels claim to target ships linked to Israel or its allies, but many of the vessels attacked have no direct connection to the conflict. This incident marks the third time a ship in Delta Tankers’ fleet has been attacked in the region, with previous assaults involving the Delta Blue earlier this month.
In response to the growing threat, security firms have advised ships in the area to maintain a safe distance from the conflict zone and report any suspicious activity.
Distress broadcast of M/T SOUNION as heard by another vessel#vessels #maritimevessel #ships #viral #mtsounion #maritimeshipping #RobbanAssafina pic.twitter.com/mVMM8n5R1E
— Robban Assafina (@robbanassafina) August 21, 2024
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