Tanker Explosion in Red Sea

Yemen's Houthi rebels have released a video depicting an explosion and fire on a vessel in the Red Sea, following an attack on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion earlier this week. The tanker, which had been abandoned by its crew on Thursday, was reported to be adrift after fires erupted on Friday. The circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear, and the authenticity of the Houthi video, claimed to be filmed the day before, has not been independently verified. The Sounion was carrying approximately 136,000 tonnes of crude oil, raising concerns about navigational and environmental hazards in the region. The crew, consisting of 25 Filipinos and Russians along with four private security personnel, was rescued by a French military vessel and taken to Djibouti, as confirmed by the EU's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has disrupted vital trade routes, which typically facilitate the passage of $1 trillion in goods annually. Since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October, Houthi rebels have intensified their attacks, targeting over 80 vessels with missiles and drones. They have successfully seized one vessel and sunk two others, while many attacks have been thwarted by a US-led coalition. The Houthis assert that their operations are aimed at vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK, as part of their strategy to pressure an end to the conflict in Gaza.