Burning Red Sea oil tanker unsafe to tow —EU naval mission

DUBAI — An operation to tow away a burning oil tanker that was attacked by Yemeni rebels in the Red Sea is too hazardous to proceed, a European Union naval mission said on Tuesday, warning of severe environmental risks.

"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 said in a statement on X.

"Alternative solutions are now being explored by the private companies."

The Greek-flagged oil tanker, Sounion, was hit by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels off the coast of Hodeida on August 21 while carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil. Its crew, which included 23 Filipinos, were rescued.

The EU's Aspides mission, which is protecting the tugs involved in the operation, said it aimed to avoid an "unprecedented environmental disaster in the region."

Aspides, which was formed in February to guard merchant shipping in the Red Sea following dozens of Houthi attacks, earlier said multiple fires were still burning.

"Several fires continue to burn on the vessel's main deck," it said, noting that there were "no visible signs of an oil spill." — Agence France-Presse