Greek Oil Tanker Towed to Safety After Houthi Attacks

Salvagers have successfully towed a Greek-flagged oil tanker, Sounion, which had been ablaze for weeks after an attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, to a safe area without any oil spill, as reported by the European Union naval mission on Monday. This move managed to avert an environmental disaster in the Red Sea, though concerns over ongoing threats to maritime safety persist. The EU naval mission, known as Operation Aspides, affirmed that the vessel was moved without incidents and remains under close monitoring as the salvage operation is completed.

As the Sounion reached safer waters, the Houthis claimed to have shot down an American-made MQ-9 Reaper drone, which is valued at about $30 million. Video evidence shows a surface-to-air missile strike and subsequent wreckage, bolstering these claims. The Houthis continue to target maritime traffic in the Red Sea due to the Israel-Hamas war, impacting a vital shipping route.

Further emphasizing the region's volatility, the Houthis have targeted over 80 merchant vessels since the conflict began in October, with some attacks resulting in casualties and losses. The rebels argue that their attacks are aimed at ships connected to Israel, the US, or the UK to force an end to Israel's offensives in Gaza, though many of the targeted ships are not connected to the conflict. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)