Houthi drone boats strike oil tankers in the Red Sea

07/21/2024 / By Richard Brown

Footage has emerged showing a Houthi suicide drone striking an oil tanker approximately 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. The drone hit the tanker on its port side, raising concerns about a potential oil spill.

This incident underscores the challenges facing the United States-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, aimed at protecting southern Israel by curbing the Houthis’ activities in the Red Sea. President Joe Biden previously acknowledged that U.S. strikes in Yemen were not stopping Houthi attacks on global shipping but vowed to continue them nonetheless.

The footage of the attack was released by the Houthis, who have been targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November. They claim these attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza. (Related: Yemen’s Houthis attack bulk carrier in Red Sea with suicide drone boat – first time in this conflict.)

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that two vessels were attacked in the Red Sea off Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. One ship sustained damage and light smoke after being hit on its port side by an uncrewed drone boat 97 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah. Another merchant vessel, 70 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, was attacked by three small watercraft, according to UKMTO.

The master of the second craft reported that one of the vessels was unmanned and intentionally collided with the ship twice, while passengers on the other two boats fired on the vessel. The ship conducted “self-protection measures,” and after 15 minutes, the small craft aborted the attack.

Ameen Hayyan, director of the Yemeni Armed Forces’ spokesperson’s office, said the vessels were attacked because the companies owning them violated the Houthis’ decision to ban entry into the “ports of occupied Palestine.”

The oil tanker is owned by the Marshall Islands, flagged by Liberia and operated by Greece. It was carrying crude oil to Israel. The other ship, the MT Bentley I, is an Israel-owned, Panama-flagged and Monaco-operated tanker vessel. No damages were reported to the latter vessel.

Houthi attacks against Israel-linked shipping increasing

The increased frequency and effectiveness of Houthi attacks have raised concerns about the safety of maritime routes in the region.

The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are critical waterways for global trade, connecting Europe with the Middle East and Asia.

The disruption caused by these attacks not only threatens the safety of commercial shipping but also has broader implications for global trade and energy security.

Despite international efforts to curb Houthi activities, the group has continued to expand its reach.

The persistence of these attacks highlights the limitations of current countermeasures and underscores the need for a coordinated international response to ensure the security of vital maritime routes.

The ongoing conflict and instability in Yemen continue to pose significant challenges for regional and global security, with the Houthis’ actions serving as a stark reminder of the volatility in the region.

Despite Biden’s campaign against them, the Houthis have expanded their attacks to include targets in the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.

In May, the Houthis even managed to capture a $30 million U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, further complicating the situation for the U.S. in the region.

Since November, the Houthis have launched dozens of attacks, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and killing at least three sailors.

These attacks have significantly disrupted global trade, forcing ship owners to avoid the Suez Canal trade shortcut.

The Houthis have become increasingly effective at damaging ships, primarily through the use of unmanned, armed watercraft that target a vessel’s vulnerable waterline.

Watch the footage showing how USV has targeted the “CHIOS Lion” oil ship in the Red Sea.

This video is from Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.