Rescue Operation After Attack on Greek Oil Tanker in the Red Sea

Rescue Operation Following Attack on Greek Oil Tanker in the Red Sea

The crew of a Greek-flagged oil tanker endured a harrowing experience after their vessel was subjected to a combination of gunfire and missile strikes in the Red Sea. Fortunately, they were successfully rescued after evacuating into a lifeboat, as reported by a European Union naval mission on Thursday. This incident marks one of the most severe assaults on commercial shipping in this region off the coast of Yemen in recent weeks.

While the Yemen-based Houthi militia has been responsible for numerous attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, they have not formally claimed responsibility for this latest assault. The situation underscores the ongoing volatility in the region.

The tanker, identified as the Sounion, was navigating approximately 90 miles west of the Yemeni port of Hudaydah early Wednesday when it was approached by two small boats. According to a statement from Britain’s maritime trade agency, based in Dubai, “The first craft had three to five persons onboard while the second had approximately 10.” The exchange escalated into a brief gunfight, after which the small boats retreated. However, the vessel was then struck by three “unidentified projectiles,” igniting a fire and crippling the ship’s engine, leaving its fate uncertain as of Thursday.

In a swift response, the crew was rescued by a vessel from the European Union military mission known as Operation Aspides, which was established to counter Houthi aggression against maritime traffic. A statement released by the mission featured images of an enclosed lifeboat, typical for oil industry operations, bobbing in the water, alongside a photograph of the crew members aboard a rescue speedboat.

After coming under attack, the captain of the Sounion issued a distress call for assistance. The E.U. military took decisive action by neutralizing what it described as an “unmanned surface vessel” that posed an immediate threat to the tanker. Following the rescue, the crew was being transported to Djibouti for safety.

The damaged vessel, carrying an impressive 150,000 metric tons of crude oil, remained afloat but was declared a “navigational and environmental hazard,” according to the E.U. statement. Delta Tankers, the operator of the Sounion, confirmed that the ship would be relocated to a safer area for necessary repairs, although it remained unclear if any oil was leaking from the damaged tanker.

The Houthi militia, which enjoys backing from Iran, has been targeting ships in the Red Sea since late last year, particularly those en route to the Suez Canal—a crucial passage for vessels traversing between Asia, Europe, and the eastern United States. In response to these threats, the United States and Britain have conducted military strikes on Houthi positions; however, analysts suggest that these actions have had minimal impact on the militia’s military capabilities. Consequently, the attacks have persisted, compelling vessels to seek alternate routes and causing disruptions in global trade. As a result, oil prices remained relatively stable on Thursday, hovering near their lowest levels of the year.

Throughout the series of assaults, the maritime community has witnessed at least two vessels sinking and a tragic loss of at least three crew members’ lives. This ongoing crisis continues to raise alarms about the safety of shipping lanes in this strategically significant region.

Jason Karaian contributed reporting.