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European Aspides to Protect Rescue Operation of Sounion Tanker

Fires continue on deck of Greek oil tanker Sounion due to Houthi attacks (Aspides)
Fires continue on deck of Greek oil tanker Sounion due to Houthi attacks (Aspides)
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European Aspides to Protect Rescue Operation of Sounion Tanker

Fires continue on deck of Greek oil tanker Sounion due to Houthi attacks (Aspides)
Fires continue on deck of Greek oil tanker Sounion due to Houthi attacks (Aspides)

The European mission to protect navigation in the Red Sea, known as Aspides, has announced that its forces are on high alert to safeguard the vessels involved in the rescue operation for the Greek oil tanker Sounion, which has been ablaze since Aug. 23 due to attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis.

In a statement issued on Friday, the European mission, which began operations in the Red Sea in mid-February, reported that the Sounion remains on fire following the attack but is currently anchored and not drifting. There are no indications of oil leakage from the main cargo hold, it added.

Despite a failed rescue attempt about two weeks ago, the statement highlighted the importance of close cooperation between public and private organizations to avert an environmental disaster.

The statement stressed that Aspides is prepared to facilitate a new rescue operation in the coming days by protecting commercially chartered vessels that will tow the tanker to a safe location.

The Houthi militias, backed by Iran, launched a series of attacks on the tanker on Aug. 21, which led to engine failure and the vessel running aground in the Red Sea between Yemen and Eritrea.

A French frigate from the European mission then evacuated the 29-member crew to Djibouti, according to Djiboutian authorities. The militias subsequently boarded the tanker, which holds one million barrels of crude oil, rigged it with explosives, and detonated them, causing fires in at least five locations.

As concerns grow over a potential major environmental disaster if the Sounion explodes or sinks in the Red Sea, the Houthi group has agreed to a new rescue attempt following approval from Iran, based on European demands. Since then, the rescue company has been unable to carry out the mission, and discussions are now focused on a new attempt to tow the tanker to safety.

Maritime sources told Reuters that experts will resume the risky rescue operation this week. The companies initially involved in towing the 274.2-meter-long tanker had halted the process, deeming it unsafe. Officials told Reuters that the towing operation will be highly sensitive due to the tanker being fully loaded, and any spill could be the largest of its kind in recorded history, potentially causing an environmental catastrophe in a highly dangerous area.

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Lavrov: Moscow Maintains Communication with Damascus, Will Not Withdraw from the Region

Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
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Lavrov: Moscow Maintains Communication with Damascus, Will Not Withdraw from the Region

Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to the Middle East, stating that Moscow “has not and will not withdraw from the region.” He emphasized ongoing communication with Syria’s new leadership and expressed readiness to support the political process in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov attributed Syria’s deteriorating situation to the previous regime, blaming its unwillingness to implement reforms and share power with the opposition.

“The refusal of the former Syrian regime to make any changes or share power with the opposition was one of the primary reasons for its collapse,” he said.

Lavrov noted that over the past decade, since President Bashar al-Assad requested Russian intervention in the Syrian war and the launch of the Astana peace process, Damascus had delayed advancing the political path.

“Despite support from Arab nations, Syrian authorities showed reluctance to move forward politically and sought to maintain the status quo,” he explained.

He highlighted Russia’s repeated calls for the Syrian government to engage with the Constitutional Committee, established during the 2018 Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, and to actively work on drafting a new constitution.

Lavrov also pointed to economic challenges exacerbated by sanctions, which have stifled Syria’s economy, and US control over oil-rich eastern regions. Resources were exploited to fuel separatist ambitions in northeastern Syria, he remarked.

Moreover, the FM revealed details of Moscow’s earlier discussions with Kurdish groups, reiterating his country’s position that Kurdish rights should be guaranteed within the constitutional frameworks of Syria, Iraq, Iran and Türkiye.

He argued that the previous Syrian regime’s reluctance to engage in political dialogue resulted in stalled reforms proposed by the United Nations, Moscow and Cairo platforms, and Istanbul-based opposition groups. This inaction, he said, created a vacuum that ultimately led to the collapse.

Furthermore, he dismissed claims that his country’s withdrawal from Syria would signal its departure from the Middle East.

“Russia has not and will not leave the region,” he declared. Without directly addressing the status of Russian military bases in Syria, Lavrov emphasized: “Our embassy never left Damascus, and we maintain ongoing communication with the authorities.”

He also stressed Russia’s willingness to facilitate inclusive dialogue involving all national, political and sectarian factions, as well as relevant international stakeholders. Lavrov underscored that recent discussions with Türkiye, Gulf nations, and other parties demonstrated widespread agreement that Russia and Iran must be involved in the Syrian peace process if sustainable results are to be achieved.

For his part, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Africa, reaffirmed Russia’s focus on developments in Syria, describing relations with Damascus as a “priority of Russian foreign policy.”

Reports on Tuesday suggested that Bogdanov might soon lead a Russian delegation to Damascus. However, a Russian diplomatic source informed Asharq Al-Awsat that no date for the visit has been confirmed. The visit, which was reportedly postponed, would mark the first by a senior Russian official to Damascus since the fall of Assad’s regime in December.

Meanwhile, media reports indicated that Moscow is facing logistical challenges in withdrawing military equipment from Syria, due to restrictions imposed by Syrian authorities on the movement of Russian ships in territorial waters.

According to the English-language edition of RT, the Russian ship Sparta 2, designated to transport military equipment and weapons, was denied entry to the Port of Tartus, where Russia maintains its only overseas naval base.