ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's naval mission, Aspides, announced Tuesday that it is suspending efforts to salvage the MV Sounion, a Greek-flagged oil tanker stranded in the Red Sea after an attack by the Yemeni Houthi forces.

Aspides stated on social media platform X that since Sept. 1, it had been protecting tugs involved in salvaging the Sounion, with the primary goal of preventing "an unprecedented environmental disaster in the region."

However, the private companies overseeing the salvage determined that conditions were too dangerous for a safe towing operation and are now exploring other solutions, Aspides said.

The Sounion, carrying approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil, was attacked by Houthi forces on Aug. 21 with small arms, projectiles, and a drone boat. The crew, consisting of 25 Filipinos and Russians and four private security personnel, were evacuated by a French destroyer to Djibouti.

The situation escalated when Houthi forces released footage on Aug. 29 showing them boarding and placing explosives on the oil tanker, setting off blasts that put the Red Sea at risk of a major oil spill.

Despite the setback with the Sounion, Aspides emphasized its commitment to being a "credible EU maritime security provider" focused on protecting merchant vessels' freedom of navigation in the area.

With the suspension of the salvage operation, the Sounion remains stranded in the Red Sea, posing a significant environmental risk due to its oil cargo, according to local Yemeni observers. Enditem

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