Crew of oil tanker evacuated after being shot at off the coast of Yemen

The crew of an oil tanker that was shot at off the coast of Yemen has been evacuated. The MV Sounion, under Greek flag, caught fire on Wednesday after being hit by three projectiles allegedly fired by Houthi militias.

The ship, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil, poses an environmental risk in the Red Sea. The attack is believed to be in solidarity with the Palestinians.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Houthi rebels are suspected. The crew, consisting of 25 members, including 23 Filipinos and 2 Russians, were safely evacuated.

The Greek company, Delta Tankers, is taking measures to move the ship to a safer location and assess the damages. This incident highlights the ongoing threat to trade ships in the Red Sea, with over 80 attacks by Houthi rebels reported since the conflict began.

The situation has prompted the United States to send military reinforcements to the region.