Greek oil tanker hit in Red Sea; UK blames Houthis – (Photo: Reproduction/ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ)
A Greek-flagged oil tanker traveling through the Red Sea was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday, the 21st, the British military said. When the missile or drone strikes were followed by fire, the attack left the ship without communication and navigation.
The attack, the most intense in weeks in the Red Sea, came after small boats opened fire about 90 miles west of the rebel-held Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) said.
The Greek Shipping Ministry later identified the Sounion as the oil tanker with 25 crew members on board when it was attacked while traveling from Iraq to Cyprus. Later on Wednesday, the UKMTO announced that a second ship had been targeted by three explosions in the Gulf of Aden, but that they had caused no damage.
The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attacks, although it could be hours or even days before they claim responsibility.
