'Not safe' to tow burning Red Sea oil tanker: EU mission

Dubai: An operation to tow away a burning oil tanker attacked by Yemeni rebels in the Red Sea is too hazardous to proceed, a European Union naval miss...

Dubai: An operation to tow away a burning oil tanker attacked by Yemeni rebels in the Red Sea is too hazardous to proceed, a European Union naval mission said on Tuesday, warning of severe environmental risks.

The Greek-flagged oil tanker, Sounion, was hit by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis off the coast of Hodeida on August 21 while carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil.

"The private companies responsible for the salvage operation have concluded that the conditions were not met to conduct the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed," the mission said in a statement on X.

"Alternative solutions are now being explored by the private companies."

The EU's Aspides mission, which is protecting the tugs involved in the operation, said it aimed to avoid an "unprecedented environmental disaster in the region".