Shocking video shows moment huge explosion engulfs Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker in the Red Sea after it was targeted by Huthi rebels
- Chios Lion, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker, was hit on its port side on Tuesday
- The attack was part of a series of attacks by the Houthis on ships in the Red Sea
- Rebels said the attack was in retaliation for the Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis in Gaza
Dramatic footage shows Houthi rebels firing on a crude oil tanker in the Red Sea, then setting the ship ablaze.
Chios Lion, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker, was hit on its port side during the attack on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
The Yemen-based Houthi group has attacked ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the past nine months, claiming its actions are a direct response to Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. This claim has been repeatedly denied by the UK and its allies.
The attack is said to have been carried out by an unmanned vessel, but only minor damage has been reported.
Dramatic footage shows the moment Houthi rebels target a crude oil tanker in the Red Sea, before setting the unfortunate vessel up in flames.
Chios Lion, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker, was hit on its port side during the attack on Tuesday
The attack was part of a series of attacks by the Houthis on the ship and another vessel sailing about 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah.
The attack was part of a series of attacks by the Houthis on the ship and another vessel sailing about 100 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
Following the incident, officials are assessing damage and investigating a possible oil spill, the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said on Tuesday.
“The vessel was originally heading south, but after the attack it turned around and headed north out of the threatened area to further assess the damage and investigate possible oil spills,” the JMIC said in a statement.
It was added that the captain and crew were safe.
Chios Lion’s manager did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Houthis in Yemen said they attacked the Chios Lion and Bentley I with ballistic missiles, drones and booby-trapped boats.
Since November, the Houthis’ attacks have taken an economic toll on global trade, as shipowners are forced to switch their vessels from the Suez Canal to the longer, more expensive route around Africa.
They also pose a risk to the environment in the form of released cargo, such as oil and fertilizer, and fuel used to propel ships.
The Yemen-based Houthi group has targeted shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the past nine months, claiming its actions are a direct response to Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. Pictured: Houthi supporters in May