An effort to salvage an oil tanker damaged by a Houthi attack in the Red Sea has been abandoned due to unsafe conditions, according to the EU’s naval mission.
Sean Seddon and David Gritten report for BBC.
In short:
- The Greek tanker MV Sounion, hit by Houthi projectiles in August, is still burning with its fires uncontrolled.
- Salvage teams withdrew after the EU naval mission deemed conditions too dangerous, exploring alternative solutions.
- A potential oil spill could be four times worse than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, affecting over 1,300 miles of coastline.
Key quote:
“These reckless acts of terrorism by the Houthis continue to destabilize regional and global commerce, as well as put the lives of civilian mariners and maritime ecosystems at risk.”
— U.S. Central Command
Why this matters:
With nearly a million barrels of oil onboard, a spill could devastate marine ecosystems and disrupt shipping routes, escalating environmental and economic crises. The conflict in Yemen has extended into global waters, threatening international security.
