(Dubai) Conditions are “not right” to tow an oil tanker that poses an environmental risk in the Red Sea after being attacked last month by Yemeni rebels, the European Union mission involved in the operation said on Tuesday.
“The private companies responsible for the rescue operation concluded that the conditions were not right to carry out the towing operation and that it was not safe to continue,” the Aspides mission said on its X account, without specifying the nature of the risks involved.
“Alternative solutions” are being studied, she added.
THE Sounionwhich flies the Greek flag and is carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, was hit on August 21 by projectiles launched by the Houthis.
The Iranian-backed insurgents then claimed to have detonated explosive devices on the ship, causing several fires on board, before “authorizing” its rescue.
The Aspides mission, deployed in February to protect merchant shipping from rebel attacks, said Monday that the ship was still on fire, and that it would provide protection to tugboats “to prevent an environmental catastrophe” in the Red Sea.
The US military’s Middle East Command (CENTCOM) said Monday evening that the rescue operation was underway.
Since November, Yemeni rebels have been targeting ships they believe to be linked to Israel, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where a war has been waged between the Islamist movement Hamas and Israel since October 7.
Their attacks have disrupted traffic in this strategic maritime zone for global trade, prompting the United States to set up an international maritime coalition and strike rebel targets in Yemen, sometimes with the help of the United Kingdom.
The Aspides mission, which was purely defensive, had rescued the 23 crew members of the Sounion the day after the attack.
On Monday, the British maritime safety agency UKMTO reported missile and drone strikes on two oil tankers off Yemen, without causing any casualties.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for only one attack, which targeted the Blue Lagoon I.
PHOTO YORUK ISIK, REUTERS ARCHIVES
THE Blue Lagoon I was also hit by an attack.
According to CENTCOM, the second ship is a Saudi oil tanker carrying some two million barrels of crude, the Amjadbut its owner denied on Tuesday that he had been targeted.
” Amjad was sailing north in the Red Sea, near another tanker that was attacked,” Saudi state-owned carrier Bahri said on its website.
“We state unequivocally thatAmjad was not targeted and there were no casualties or damage,” he said, adding that the ship remained “fully operational and [dirigeait] to the intended destination”.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition since 2015 that supports the Yemeni government against the rebels.