The Houthis attacked the tanker “Sunion” on August 21.
Rescuers succeeded in pulling Greek flagged oil tanker A tanker that has been burning for weeks after attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen has been moved to a safe zone without any oil spill, the European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea (ASPEDS) announced on Monday.
Update on MV SOUNION salvage status
Under the protection of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES 🇪🇺, MV SOUNION has been successfully towed to a safe area without any oil spill. While private stakeholders complete the salvage operation, ASPIDES will continue to monitor the situation.
The completion of… pic.twitter.com/FJrk9JGNUg
— EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) September 16, 2024
The towing of this Greek-flagged ship, carrying more than a million barrels of crude oil, was a difficult task.
Its rupture or sinking threatens to cause an oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill off the coast of Alaska.
She explained Mission “Private parties carried out the rescue operation,” but the “Aspedes” mission confirmed that it “will continue to monitor the situation.”
The tanker Sunion, carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil, caught fire and lost its propulsion power after being attacked on August 21.
Its 25-member crew was evacuated the next day by a French frigate from the European Aspedes mission deployed in the area, which is overseeing the towing operation.
Days after the attack, the Houthis announced that they had detonated explosive devices on the ship’s deck, causing new fires.
For months, it has been targeting Houthis Those who control large areas of Yemen are blocking ships they believe are linked to Israel, the United States and Britain, justifying this by solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the context of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.
Their attacks disrupted navigation in this vital maritime area for global trade, prompting the United States to create an international naval coalition and carry out strikes on rebel targets in Yemen, some of which involved Britain.
