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The Houthi attack on the Greek-flagged tanker โSounionโ in the Red Sea has sparked serious concerns about a potential catastrophic oil spill with widespread environmental and economic impacts.
Last year marked the beginning of turmoil in the Red Sea with the Yemeni Houthi rebels dragging the region into limbo in response to Israelโs ignorance towards a ceasefire in Gaza.
Their efforts include missile and drone strikes targeting ships that are supposedly linked to Israel, the UK, or the US. However, many such vessels have been discovered to have no direct connection to these nations, painting the rebels as volatile.
In addition to strikes, the Houthis have seized one ship and sunk two others during their campaign. Their attacks have resulted in casualties among sailors and have caused significant damage to various vessels, prompting major shipping companies to reroute their operations away from the Red Sea – which is crucial for global trade.
What is the current situation?
One such vessel recently targeted by the Houthis is the โSounionโ, a Greek-flagged tanker en route to Greece. At the time of the attack, the vessel carried approximately 1 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil.
The tanker remains anchored in the Red Sea, west of Al Hudayah port in Yemen with several fires still burning on its main deck. According to the Pentagon, though there is no major leak from the ship, however, satellite imagery has shown signs of potential oil residue nearby.
To prevent an ecological disaster, the Houthis have allowed a salvage operation for the Sounion to proceed. The Greek company Delta Tankers, which operates the vessel, is coordinating these efforts but has not shared specific details due to security concerns.
The mission is at risk of facing difficulties as Houthi attacks become increasingly unpredictable. On September 2, the group targeted two oil tankers near the Sounion, where salvage operations were ongoing.
In response to the rising threat from the Houthis, the European Union has launched Operation Aspides to safeguard commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Warships from Greece, France, and Italy have been deployed near the Sounion to prevent any unforeseen attacks that could disrupt salvage efforts.
