ALBAWABA- Reports indicate that Houthis have attacked two vessels in the Red Sea, including the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Blue Lagoon, which was carrying Russian oil.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that the first incident occurred 70 nautical miles northwest of Al Salif, where the tanker was struck by two unidentified projectiles, with a third explosion reported nearby. A second attack took place 58 nautical miles west of Hodeida, Yemen.
In response, private companies, with the support of EU forces, are initiating a rescue operation for the MV SOUNION, a vessel bombed by Houthis.
This operation is crucial to prevent an environmental disaster as fires continue to burn on the ship's main deck. Fortunately, the ship remains anchored with no visible oil spill.
Notably, on August 27, Houthi attacked and exploded a Greek-flagged vessel carrying approximately one million barrels of oil, claiming the ship's company violated their restrictions by sailing to Israeli ports, defying their sanctions.
Just three days later, the Houthi group agreed to a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the rescue and towing of the damaged oil tanker Sounion, which remains stranded in the Red Sea.
The ceasefire announcement was confirmed by Iran's mission to the United Nations on Wednesday.
The spokesperson further warned that shipping companies associated with Israel should consider their vessels as targets for Yemeni strikes until the aggression against Gaza ceases and the blockade is lifted.
The temporary ceasefire will allow tugboats and rescue ships to access the tanker, which has been burning since it was targeted on August 23.
The latest three attacks on the vessel have raised significant concerns about a potential environmental disaster in the region, particularly with the Israeli aggression on Gaza further escalating to the West Bank, raising potential threats to the Houthi procedures in the Red and Arab Seas.
