Salvage operation for burning oil tanker in Red Sea to commence

Sept. 2 (UPI) -- A salvage operation for an immobilized and burning oil tanker in the Red Sea where Houthi rebels have been attacking commercial and military vessels is about to commence, Europe's military mission in the region said Monday.

The Greek-owned and Greek-flagged MV Delta Sounion with some 1 million barrels of crude oil on board was attacked by the Iran proxy militia early Aug. 21 as it was en route from Iraq to Greece via the Red Sea.

Its crew of two Russian and 23 Filipino sailors was evacuated, and the ship was abandoned. At least five fires have since been observed burning on the vessel around the hatches of its oil tanks, with officials warning the ship and its oil contents pose not only an environmental but navigational hazard.

Pentagon officials late last month said previous salvage operations were thwarted by Houthi threats of attack while voicing concern that the vessel appears to be leaking oil.

Eunavfor Aspides, the European Union's military operation in the Red Sea, maintains that there is no visible sign of an oil spill.

On Monday, it announced that salvage operations conducted by third parties were to begin, though specifics were scant.

The EU military mission said in a statement that it will provide tug boats for the operation and "facilitate their efforts to prevent an environmental disaster."

It said that the vessel poses "a significant environmental threat" due to the quantity of oil it is holding.

Embolden by Israel's war in Gaza , the Houthis of Yemen have since mid-November been enforcing a military blockage of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by attacking merchant vessels as well as U.S. and British military ships that attempt to transit the all-important trade route.

The Iran proxy militia claims the blockade is in solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza.

The Houthis have seized at least one ship, sunk two and killed four sailors amid its roughly 150 attacks on vessels during its blockade.

The announcement came as two unidentified merchant vessels in the Red Sea were hit, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations .

One was struck by two projectiles early Monday about 70 nautical miles northwest of Saleef, Yemen. The second was struct about five hours later near the first attack, about 58 nautical miles west of Al Hudaydah, Yemen.

Neither vessel suffered casualties and both were continuing to transit to their next port of call.