Burning oil tanker is safely towed away from Yemen after rebel attacks

Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Greek-flagged oil tanker ablaze for weeks after attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has been “successfully towed to a safe area without any oil spill.” That’s according to a statement from a European Union naval mission on Monday. Operation Aspides issued the statement regarding the oil tanker Sounion. The Houthis first attacked the ship Aug. 21 and later planted explosives aboard the vessel. Salvagers successfully towed the Sounion away from Yemen. The Houthis meanwhile claimed that they shot down another American-made MQ-9 Reaper drone. Video circulating online showed what appeared to be a surface-to-air missile strike and flaming wreckage strewn across the ground.