Salvagers Halt Effort to Tow Burning Red Sea Oil Tanker Amid Houthi Rebel Threat

Salvagers have ceased their efforts to tow away a burning oil tanker in the Red Sea, attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The EU's Operation Aspides confirmed it was unsafe to proceed, leaving the Sounion and its 1 million barrels of oil stranded. Alternative solutions are being explored.

Salvagers abandoned an effort to tow away a burning oil tanker in the Red Sea targeted by Yemen's Houthi rebels, citing safety concerns, according to a European Union naval mission on Tuesday.

The EU's Operation Aspides announced that the Sounion, laden with 1 million barrels of oil, remains stranded in the Red Sea. "The private companies responsible for the salvage operation have concluded that the conditions were not met to conduct the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed," the mission stated, adding that alternative solutions are being considered.

The Greek-flagged tanker was initially attacked on August 21 by Houthi rebels using small arms fire, projectiles, and a drone boat. A French destroyer part of Operation Aspides rescued the Sounion's crew and private security personnel and took them to Djibouti.

(With inputs from agencies.)