The Houthis, who control the most populous areas of Yemen, announced on Thursday that they had attacked the oil tanker Sunion, part of a series of attacks that have continued for 10 months in support of the Palestinians in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The 20 first attacked the tanker on Wednesday, setting it ablaze and shutting down its engine. Its 25-member crew was later rescued by a European warship. The unmanned vessel was anchored between Yemen and Eritrea.
The UKMTO said in an alert on Friday that there were reports of three explosions from the ship, which it also said had already started drifting in the Red Sea. The youths later posted a video on social media showing them setting the tanker on fire.
The damaged tanker, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, poses an environmental hazard, according to the European Union's naval mission in the Red Sea, Aspedes.
The attack and the ensuing fire have caused grave concern in the international community, particularly regarding the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Al-Hawzi’s attacks in the region are increasing tension and uncertainty, threatening global oil shipping routes.
About 24 hours after NATO-backed Ukrainian forces shelled a Russian ship carrying about 30 fuel tanks in the Russian Caucasus port of South Krasnodar, Houthi rebels in Yemen targeted the Greek-flagged oil tanker MV Sunion, which was carrying 150,000 tons of oil in the Red Sea. pic.twitter.com/2nU9hXaCl8
— Alhaji Mokwe (@alhajimokwe) August 24, 2024
Cover image is an illustration. Cover image source: Portfolio
