Greek Oil Tanker Attacked in Red Sea Amid Houthi Campaign

A Greek-flagged oil tanker was attacked in the Red Sea by suspected Houthi rebels, leaving it adrift and ablaze. The assault is part of a broader campaign targeting ships due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The rebels have targeted over 80 vessels since October, disrupting significant trade routes.

A Greek-flagged oil tanker travelling through the Red Sea came under repeated attack Wednesday, leaving the vessel “not under command” and drifting ablaze after an assault suspected to have been carried out by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the British military said.

The attack, the most serious in the Red Sea in weeks, comes during a monthslong campaign by Houthis targeting ships over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that has disrupted a trade route through which USD 1 trillion in cargo typically passes each year.

The Greek shipping ministry later identified the vessel as the tanker Sounion, which had 25 crew members on board at the time of the attack as it travelled from Iraq to Cyprus. Four projectiles also hit the ship, but there were no casualties reported, although the ship was later found drifting on fire.