French Navy ship hits surface drone menacing a tanker in the Red Sea
French Forces in the Indian Ocean Respond to Oil Tanker Attack Near Yemen
On August 21, 2024, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Sounion, owned by a Greek shipowner, was attacked twice by boats while navigating the Red Sea near the Yemeni coast. The vessel suffered severe damage, including a major fire in the engine room, water ingress, and complete engine and electrical failure, causing it to drift close to Yemen.
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The following morning, Wednesday, August 22, 2024, a French destroyer was dispatched under the European Union’s ASPIDES operation, in coordination with the French forces stationed in the United Arab Emirates, to assist the stricken vessel. Upon arrival, the destroyer detected a new attack on the tanker by a naval drone (USV). The French destroyer successfully thwarted the attack by neutralizing the explosives-laden drone and proceeded to evacuate the 29 crew members. The Sounion is now anchored in international waters.
In response to this incident, French forces, which maintain a continuous presence in the Indian Ocean—particularly in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden—acted to uphold international law, ensure maritime safety, and protect freedom of navigation in the region stretching from the Suez Canal to the Strait of Hormuz.
