Houthis agree to temporary truce to tow Sounion tanker

Yemen's Houthis have agreed to a temporary ceasefire. They provided time to tow the Sounion tanker damaged in the Red Sea.

This was reported by the Permanent Mission of Iran to the UN. A tanker loaded with oil was coming from Greece through the Red Sea. Sounion's crew consisted of 23 Filipinos and two Russians.

On August 21, the ship was attacked 77 nautical miles west of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah. Two boats with armed people approached the tanker. There was an exchange of fire between them and the ship's crew, and then the tanker was hit by three shells. Sounion lost speed and control. The crew was evacuated after a fire broke out on board the ship, creating an environmental threat. A number of countries have asked the Houthis to stop attacks on ships to prevent an environmental disaster.

Tugboats and rescue vessels are expected to approach the Sounion tanker drift site.