French Destroyer Rescues Mariners After Houthi Attack on Oil Tanker

A French destroyer rescued 29 mariners from the oil tanker Sounion after an attack in the Red Sea by suspected Houthi rebels. The rebels have been targeting ships amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, disrupting significant trade routes. The Sounion is now anchored and poses navigational and environmental hazards.

In a daring rescue operation, a French destroyer saved 29 mariners from an oil tanker, the Sounion, which came under attack in the Red Sea. The assailants, believed to be Yemen's Houthi rebels, repeatedly targeted the vessel. A bomb-laden drone boat was also neutralized by the French forces.

The assault marks one of the most severe incidents in a series of Houthi-led maritime attacks since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in Gaza. The Sounion was left abandoned, posing a significant navigational and environmental risk with its 150,000 tons of crude oil.

The mariners, including 25 Filipinos and Russians along with four security personnel, were safely transported to Djibouti. The EU mission in the Red Sea has urged caution in the area to prevent any further escalation. The French military released images of both the Sounion extinguished blaze and the destruction of the drone boat.

(With inputs from agencies.)