Currently Online 
Crew rescued from stricken oil tanker in Red Sea: EU
The crew – 23 Filipinos and two Russians – of an oil tanker that was badly damaged in an attack in the Red Sea off Yemen have been rescued.
But a European Union naval mission says the Greek-flagged Sounion now poses an “environmental hazard”. Several projectiles hit the ship off the rebel-held Yemeni port of Hodeidah on Wednesday, causing a fire and cutting engine power.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have since claimed the attack. They began attacking merchant shipping in the area in November in a campaign they have said is in solidarity with Gaza.
On August 21, the MV SOUNION, which had not asked for EUNAFVOR ASPIDES 🇪🇺 protection, came under an attack in the South Red Sea area and lost its engine power.
Following a request from the master, the operation dispatched a ship in order to rescue the crew.
While approaching… pic.twitter.com/gdSbTjmzRm
— EUNAVFOR ASPIDES (@EUNAVFORASPIDES) August 22, 2024
Australia to hold command of Red Sea maritime task force
An Australian Navy captain is set to assume command of a maritime task force set up to protect merchant shipping in the Middle East, according to the country’s Defence Ministry.
The Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153), which was established in April 2022, was bolstered last December in response to growing Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Yemen-based group says it’s carrying out the attacks in protest against Israel’s war on Gaza.
While Australia will take command of CTF, however, the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said it will not deploy any additional military resources for the mission. His government was criticised by opposition parties last year for not responding to a US request for more warships to be deployed to the region to protect the shipping lanes.
