Aspidis announces completion of operation to tow oil tanker targeted by Houthis off Yemen

An oil tanker attacked by Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen in August has been "successfully towed to safety without any oil spill," the European Union's Red Sea naval mission (ASPEDS) announced Monday.

The towing of this Greek-flagged ship, carrying more than a million barrels of crude oil, was a difficult task.

Its rupture or sinking threatens to cause an oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill off the coast of Alaska.

The mission explained that "private parties carried out the rescue operation," but the "Aspedes" mission confirmed that it "will continue to monitor the situation."

Update on MV SOUNION salvage status

Under the protection of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES 🇪🇺, MV SOUNION has been successfully towed to a safe area without any oil spill. While private stakeholders complete the salvage operation, ASPIDES will continue to monitor the situation.

The completion of… pic.twitter.com/FJrk9JGNUg

- EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) September 16, 2024

The tanker Sunion, carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil, caught fire and lost its propulsion power after being attacked on August 21.

Its 25-member crew was evacuated the next day by a French frigate from the European Aspedes mission deployed in the area, which is overseeing the towing operation.

Days after the attack, the Houthis announced that they had detonated explosive devices on the ship's deck, causing new fires.

For months, the Houthis, who control large areas of Yemen, have been targeting ships they believe are linked to Israel, the United States and Britain, justifying this by showing solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the context of the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Their attacks disrupted navigation in this vital maritime area for global trade, prompting the United States to create an international naval coalition and carry out strikes on rebel targets in Yemen, some of which involved Britain.

Source: AFP