An oil tanker catches fire and drifts in the Red Sea after multiple attacks

A Greek-owned and flagged oil tanker is on fire and adrift in the Red Sea after a series of attacks, British and Greek authorities said.

The Sounion was first hit by gunfire from two small boats that arrived early Wednesday morning about 77 nautical miles (143km) west of the Yemeni port of Hudaydah, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations office (UKMTO).

Later, the ship was hit by three unidentified explosives, which started a fire and left it without engine power, he said. There were no reports of injuries among its 25 employees.

No party has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which Greece’s maritime affairs minister condemned as a clear violation of international law.

However, Yemen’s Yemen-backed Houthi movement has repeatedly targeted shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November.

The Houthis say they are working to support the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They have claimed – often lying – that they only target ships bound for Israel, the US or the UK.

They have not been deterred by the deployment of Western warships to protect merchant ships or US and British airstrikes in the territory they control in northwestern Yemen. Israel also bombed the port of Hudaydah last month in retaliation for a drone strike in Tel Aviv.

The Sounion, a Suezmax vessel 274m long and 50m wide, was carrying crude oil from the Iraqi port of Basra when it was attacked.

The Greek operator of the ship, Delta Tankers, said it had suffered “minor” damage and that its crew was assessing the situation before continuing the voyage.

Also on Wednesday, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, the SW North Wind I, reported three explosions in nearby waters as it sailed through the Gulf of Aden, UKMTO said.

It added that the crew were safe following the incidents, which occurred 57 miles south of the Yemeni city of Aden, and the ship was proceeding to the next port.

In June, the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned cargo ship Tutor sank and one crew member was killed after the Houthis attacked it with a seaplane in the Red Sea.