- The Liberian-flagged tanker Chios Lion was rammed on its port side on Tuesday
- The assault was part of a series of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
- Rebels said the attack was in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis in Gaza.
Dramatic footage shows the moment Houthi rebels targeted a crude oil tanker in the Red Sea before causing the ill-fated vessel to burst into flames.
The Liberian-flagged tanker Chios Lion was hit on its port side during Tuesday’s attack, Reuters reports.
The Yemen-based Houthi group has been attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for the past nine months, claiming its actions are a direct response to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza – a claim that has been repeatedly rejected by the UK and its allies.
An unmanned vessel is said to have carried out the attack, although only minor damage has been reported.
Dramatic footage shows the moment Houthi rebels targeted a crude oil tanker in the Red Sea before causing the ill-fated vessel to burst into flames.
The Chios Lion, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker, was hit on its port side during Tuesday’s attack.
The assault was part of a series of Houthi attacks on the ship and another boat sailing about 100 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
The assault was part of a series of Houthi attacks on the ship and another boat sailing about 100 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
Following the incident, authorities are assessing the damage and investigating a possible oil spill, the Joint Maritime Information Centre for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (JMIC) said on Tuesday.
“Although originally heading south, following the attack the ship turned around and returned north out of the threat area to further assess the damage and investigate a possible oil spill,” JMIC said in a statement.
He added that the captain and crew were safe.
The manager of Chios Lion did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Yemen’s Houthis said they attacked the Chios Lion and Bentley I with ballistic missiles, drones and booby-trapped ships.
Since November, Houthi attacks have taken an economic toll on global trade by forcing shipowners to steer clear of the Suez Canal shortcut and take the longer, more expensive route around Africa.
They also pose a risk to the environment in the form of spills of cargo, such as oil and fertilizers, as well as fuel used to propel the ships.
The Yemen-based Houthi group has been attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the past nine months, claiming its actions are a direct response to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Pictured: Houthi supporters in May