LONDON: The oil products tanker Sounion was attacked by suspected Houthi fighters off the coast of Yemen on Wednesday, causing damage to the vessel but no injuries, the Greek shipping ministry and the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported.
The incident occurred approximately 77 nautical miles (142 kilometers) west of Yemen’s Hodeidah Port in the Red Sea.
The Sounion, a Greek-flagged vessel operated by Delta Tankers, was struck by three projectiles and sustained damage that rendered it unable to maneuver. Despite the severity of the attack, there were no injuries reported among the crew members, which included two Russians and 23 Filipinos. The vessel’s operator confirmed that the crew and vessel are safe, though the ship is currently adrift as the crew assesses the damage before resuming its journey.
According to UKMTO, the vessel was approached by two small craft carrying approximately 15 persons. A brief exchange of small arms fire took place during the incident. The Greek shipping ministry corroborated the report, noting that while the Sounion suffered damage, no injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, British security firm Ambrey reported another attack in the same area, involving small arms fire from two skiffs. This earlier attack occurred approximately 10 nautical miles further south, although the vessel involved was not identified.
The recent spate of attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea has been attributed to the Houthi group, who have escalated their assaults on maritime traffic since November of last year. These actions are reportedly in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli offensives.
The disruption to global shipping routes has been significant, with many vessel owners opting to reroute their ships away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, opting instead for the longer route around the southern tip of Africa to avoid the area of conflict.
