The Greek authorities launched a naval operation to rescue the tanker owned by them, "Sounion", which was stuck in the Red Sea, after it was attacked by the Houthi group more than three weeks ago.

The Athens Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) said that the Greek rescue ship "Aegaeon Pelagos" began, on Saturday, towing the tanker "MV SOUNION", which had been anchored since August 27 due to the outbreak of fires in it 72 nautical miles west of the city. Yemeni Hodeidah in the Red Sea.

She added that Greek rescuers arrived early today, Saturday, on board the ship "Pelagos" to the location of the stuck tanker, accompanied by large military forces that include three frigates, helicopters, and a unit of special forces.

The agency indicated that the specialized rescue team of the “Pelagos” ship boarded the “Sounion” tanker and was able to secure it and connect it to the tug boat, “despite the adverse conditions prevailing on the tanker’s deck, due to hot areas, where temperatures reached 400 degrees Celsius.” According to measuring devices."

She explained that the rescue ship is currently towing the tanker northward, accompanied by military forces, in order to leave the dangerous area that is witnessing Houthi attacks, which allows rescue operations to continue safely. The tanker is also accompanied by the firefighting tug (Panormitis), and is ready at any time to extinguish the fire. Fire if necessary.

The European naval mission "EUNAVFOR ASPIDES" revealed in a tweet on its account on the "X" platform on Saturday, that "its military assets actively participated in this complex endeavor, by creating a safe environment, which is necessary to enable tug boats to conduct the towing operation." ".

She stressed that the rescue operation of the “Sounion” tanker, which carries 150,000 tons of oil on board, is “critical to preventing a potential environmental catastrophe in the region, and to achieve this, many public and private agencies are cooperating in this effort.”

The tanker "Sounion" was first attacked by the Houthis on Wednesday, August 21. The next day, its crew of 25 members (23 Filipinos and two Russians) was transferred by a French destroyer to a safe place in Djibouti, while “it was later subjected to attacks that included placing small explosives on its deck, causing fires to break out in many areas.”