Houthi have shared a video showing an explosion and fire on a vessel in the Red Sea, after an attack on a Greek-flagged oil tanker earlier in the week. The Sounion tanker was abandoned by its crew on Thursday and reportedly anchored in place, but now appears to be adrift, authorities said.
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Under Siege as Two Ships Hit, One Nears Sinking
Fires broke out on Friday, according to the Associated Press news agency, but it is not immediately clear what happened on the vessel beforehand.
Houthi released a video on August 23 showing fire and three simultaneous explosions on a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea.
Houthis attacked 'Sounion' on August 21. Authorities said that the vessel carrying 1,50,000 metric tonnes of crude oil appears to be adrift in the Red Sea.
The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said that Iran will definitely avenge the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. The Houthi leader stated that Iran's attack on Israel "will be painful and have a huge impact," and that “planning for such a response is one of the reasons for the delay.”
In a bold response, the Houthis have struck two vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, intensifying the maritime conflict.
One of the targeted ships is reported to be at risk of sinking following the precision attacks. The operations, carried out using advanced weaponry, underscore the escalating tensions in the region and the Houthis' commitment to their maritime blockade against Israeli-linked ships. Watch the latest developments as the situation unfolds.
Earlier on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the oil product tanker Sounion was attacked by two small boats and hit by three projectiles in the Red Sea, near Yemen. The Greek Shipping Ministry and the UK maritime agency UKMTO said the attack caused damage to the ship but no injuries.
Houthis attacked at least one other vessel that later sank as part of their months-long campaign against shipping in the Red Sea. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip has disrupted a trade route that typically sees $1trn in goods pass through it annually.
The Greek shipping ministry said the vessel had been sailing from Iraq to Agioi Theodoroi in Greece.
The vessel had about 136,000 tonnes of crude oil aboard and represents a "navigational and environmental hazard", the mission warned.
Houthi rebels have targeted more than 80 vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October. They have seized one vessel and sunk two, while other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets.
Houthi maintain they target ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK, to force an end to Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.
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