Abandoned Tanker Sounion Catches Fire After Houthi Assault in Red Sea

On Friday, fires broke out aboard the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, which had been attacked earlier in the week by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The tanker, carrying a large cargo of crude oil, had been abandoned by its crew a day earlier and was reported to be anchored before the fires began.

The vessel is now drifting in the Red Sea, posing significant risks. The cause of the fires remains unclear, and the Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the incident.

The Houthi rebels have been conducting a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as part of their broader campaign connected to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Their actions have disrupted a critical trade route that normally sees the passage of $1 trillion in goods annually.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the fires on the Sounion, and U.S. defense officials have been monitoring the situation closely.

The Sounion was initially crewed by Filipinos and Russians, along with private security personnel. Following the Houthi attack, they were rescued and taken to Djibouti by a French destroyer. The European Union’s Aspides naval mission has warned that the drifting tanker, laden with crude oil, presents both navigational and environmental hazards.

On Friday night, the Houthis released video footage showing multiple explosions on the vessel, suggesting that explosives were planted on board.

The Houthis have justified their attacks by claiming they target ships associated with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. as a way to force an end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. However, many of the vessels attacked have had no direct links to the conflict.

The U.S. military has responded by increasing its presence in the region, including deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and additional forces to address the growing threat posed by the Houthi rebels.

In response to the escalating situation, the U.S. Central Command announced on Saturday that it had destroyed a Houthi missile system in Yemen.

This move is part of broader efforts to counter the ongoing Houthi threat, which continues to destabilize the region and disrupt international maritime trade. The situation remains tense, with significant implications for both regional security and global shipping routes.