Stricken Red Sea tanker salvage makes ‘slow’ progress: Greek military

Stricken Red Sea tanker salvage makes ‘slow’ progress: Greek military
Vessel with a rope extended toward the Greek-owned oil tanker Sounion as smoke and fire billows from it, off the coast of Hodeida in the Red Sea. (File/AFP)
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Updated 15 September 2024
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Stricken Red Sea tanker salvage makes ‘slow’ progress: Greek military

Stricken Red Sea tanker salvage makes ‘slow’ progress: Greek military
  • The operation is being overseen by the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission Aspides
  • Damage to the vessel had threatened a Red Sea oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska

ATHENS: The towing of an abandoned tanker struck by Yemen’s Houthis in August, threatening environmental disaster, is proceeding slowly for a second day, a Greek military source told AFP Sunday.
The operation to tow the Greek-flagged Sounion which began Saturday “is proceeding at a very slow pace,” the source said, adding that it was “initially headed north” without revealing a destination.
The tanker was hit on August 21 by Iran-backed Houthis with missiles off the coast of Hodeida while carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil.
After the initial strike, the Houthis returned and detonated charges on the ship’s deck, setting off new fires.
Damage to the vessel had threatened a Red Sea oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska.
The operation is being overseen by the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, which Sunday said the tanker was being towed to a “safe location.”
“The salvage of the MV SOUNION is a complex operation and consists of various phases,” the mission said on X, formerly Twitter.
It added aerial shots of the tanker escorted by two warships, one dated Sunday, in which it is still emitting smoke.
Greek state news agency ANA said the tugboat was escorted by three frigates, helicopters and a special forces team, without disclosing the states of origin.
Fires were still visible on board in Aspides pictures on X dated Saturday.
“When it reaches safe mooring there will be an attempt to put out the fire and preliminary steps will be taken to secure the cargo from leaking,” the Greek source said Sunday.
The ships’ radars have been turned off for security reasons.
The tanker had been anchored west of the militia-held port city of Hodeida, midway between Yemen and Eritrea.
The Sounion’s crew — made up of 23 Filipinos and two Russians — was rescued the day after the attack by a French frigate serving with the EU mission.
The EU naval force was formed in February to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by the Houthi militia, who have waged a campaign against international shipping that they say is intended to show solidarity with Hamas in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Since November, the Houthi attacks have caused the sinking of two ships and deaths of at least four crew members.
The Houthis have been firing drones and missiles at ships in the vital commercial route, saying they are targeting vessels linked to Israel, the US and Britain in solidarity with Palestinians over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.


Rockets target base hosting US troops near Baghdad airport

Rockets target base hosting US troops near Baghdad airport
Updated 58 min 27 sec ago
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Rockets target base hosting US troops near Baghdad airport

Rockets target base hosting US troops near Baghdad airport
  • Victory Base at Baghdad Airport was targeted with three rockets
  • Militant factions have targeted bases in Iraq and Syria that house US troops

BAGHDAD: Rockets were fired at a base housing US-led coalition forces at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on Tuesday, causing no casualties, the interior ministry and two security sources said.
“The Victory Base at Baghdad Airport was targeted with three rockets, two of which were shot down by the base’s special defenses, while the third fell near the headquarters of the Counter Terrorism Service Command,” a security source said.
A second security source said there were no casualties and that the incident had not affected air traffic.
The interior ministry later said “two Katyusha rockets fell, the first in the garage of the second regiment of the Counter-Terrorism Service and the other in an abandoned yard inside the airport.”
It said an investigation has begun into the attack which comes as Israeli forces launched ground raids and air strikes on Lebanon, raising fears of a wider regional conflict amid the ongoing the war in Gaza.
Since war broke out in the Gaza Strip after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, militant factions have targeted bases in Iraq and Syria that house US troops because of American military support for Israel.
Washington has repeatedly responded with air strikes on faction headquarters in both countries.
The United States has about 2,500 troops in Iraq and around 900 in neighboring Syria as part of the coalition it established in 2014 to fight the Daesh group.
The coalition also includes forces from other countries including Britain and France.
Armed Iraqi factions loyal to Iran have demanded the withdrawal of those troops.
Washington and Baghdad announced on Friday that the international coalition would end its decade-long military mission in Iraq within a year.
But the joint statement and US officials did not say how many American troops would remain in Iraq.
In response, the Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee, a coalition of Iran-backed armed groups opposed to the United States and Israel, called for the withdrawal to be “comprehensive and according to a clear timeline.”
After a decline in militant attacks in recent months, rockets were fired in August at the Ain Assad base in western Iraq, injuring seven Americans.
And in September, Washington said the US diplomatic complex in Baghdad was attacked by Iran-aligned militias operating in Iraq.


Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it fired missiles at Mossad HQ near Tel Aviv

Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it fired missiles at Mossad HQ near Tel Aviv
Updated 24 min 30 sec ago
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Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it fired missiles at Mossad HQ near Tel Aviv

Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it fired missiles at Mossad HQ near Tel Aviv

BEIRUT: Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Tuesday said it had targeted the Israeli military intelligence base of Glilot near Tel Aviv.
The Iran-backed group “launched salvoes of Fadi 4 rockets at the Glilot base of the military intelligence’s unit 8200 and the Mossad headquarters located on the outskirts of Tel Aviv,” it said in a statement.


Russia, Turkey express deep concern about Israeli raids in Lebanon

Russia, Turkey express deep concern about Israeli raids in Lebanon
Updated 32 min 29 sec ago
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Russia, Turkey express deep concern about Israeli raids in Lebanon

Russia, Turkey express deep concern about Israeli raids in Lebanon
  • Turkish foreign ministry: ‘This attack must end as soon as possible and Israeli soldiers must withdraw from Lebanese territory’

MOSCOW: The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was deeply concerned about Israel’s military activity in Lebanon and a strike on the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Israel said intense fighting had erupted with the Hezbollah movement in south Lebanon on Tuesday after its paratroops and commandos launched raids there, at the start of a ground incursion that followed airstrikes against Hezbollah’s leadership.

Turkiye also condemned Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon as an “unlawful invasion attempt” and called for the withdrawal of its troops.

“This attack must end as soon as possible and Israeli soldiers must withdraw from Lebanese territory,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli army said its troops were locked in fierce clashes in Lebanon after launching a ground offensive Tuesday, escalating the conflict after a week of air strikes that killed hundreds.

The ground assault came as Israel targeted south Beirut, Damascus and Gaza, despite international calls for restraint to avoid a regional conflagration.

“Israel’s violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country by launching a ground attack on Lebanon is an unlawful invasion attempt,” the foreign ministry said.

Ankara warned that is likely to trigger a new wave of migrants.

“As a result of this dangerous invasion attempt, it is highly likely that a new wave of migration will emerge and extremists will gain ground all over the world,” the ministry said.

It urged the UN Security Council to “comply with international law and take the necessary measures.”


Syria state media says 3 civilians killed in Israel strikes

Syria state media says 3 civilians killed in Israel strikes
Updated 01 October 2024
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Syria state media says 3 civilians killed in Israel strikes

Syria state media says 3 civilians killed in Israel strikes
  • Since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in the country, mainly targeting army positions and Iran-backed fighters, including Hezbollah

DAMASCUS: Syrian state media said three civilians were killed in Israeli air strikes on Damascus early Tuesday and nine others wounded, citing a military source.
“The Israeli enemy launched an air aggression with warplanes and drones from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting several points in Damascus,” the official news agency SANA said.
“Three civilians were killed and nine others injured,” it added.
AFP correspondents heard four rounds of heavy bombardment over around half an hour, whose sound resonated across the Syrian capital.
In the Mezzeh neighborhood that is home to Syrian security headquarters and embassies, an AFP correspondent saw two mini-buses burnt to cinders in the area that was hit.
A resident of a building that was hit, a 57-year-old who gave his name as Abu Mohammad, told AFP: “We heard the sound of strong blast that threw me out of bed onto the floor, and seconds later we heard people scream and cry.”
“From our balcony, we saw fire everywhere,” he said of himself and his family.
“We found a dead lady on the first floor with her children screaming beside her, but we couldn’t do anything for her.”
State television said one of its anchors had also been killed.
Safaa Ahmad was “martyred in the Israeli aggression on the capital Damascus,” it said.
Since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in the country, mainly targeting army positions and Iran-backed fighters, including Hezbollah.
Israeli authorities rarely comment on individual strikes in Syria, but have repeatedly said they will not allow arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence there.
These strikes have increased in recent days, including on areas near the border with Lebanon.
Tens of thousands of people have been crossing over into Syria during the past week, fleeing heavy Israeli air strikes on Lebanon.


Lebanon and UN launch $426 million appeal for humanitarian aid

Lebanon and UN launch $426 million appeal for humanitarian aid
Updated 01 October 2024
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Lebanon and UN launch $426 million appeal for humanitarian aid

Lebanon and UN launch $426 million appeal for humanitarian aid
  • Joint call to help civilians affected by the escalating conflict

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, and UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza launched on Tuesday a $426 million appeal to help civilians affected by the escalating conflict, the UN said in a statement.