Houthis Launch Assault on Several Vessels, Inflict Damage on One in Red Sea
There were no casualties reported on the damaged Marshall Islands-owned tanker Chios Lion.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on commercial ships on July 15, including an explosive drone boat attack that caused damage to an oil tanker.
CENTCOM identified the first ship targeted in the Red Sea as the Panama-flagged, Israel-owned, Monaco-operated tanker vessel called the MT Bentley I.
The command stated that despite being targeted by missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, two small boats, and an uncrewed surface vessel (USV), the ship reported no damage or injuries.
The second vessel targeted in the Red Sea was identified as the Liberia-flagged, Marshall Islands-owned, Greece-operated crude oil tanker known as the MT Chios Lion.
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The U.S. military confirmed that a USV drone boat struck the oil vessel, causing damage, but no injuries or requests for assistance were reported by the ship’s crew.
A representative for the Houthis shared footage of the strike on the Chios Lion.
The footage, which could not be independently verified, showed the explosive-laden drone approaching a larger vessel and exploding at the waterline.
The Houthis claimed that a third ship, the Olvia, was targeted in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Yemeni rebel faction did not detail the extent of any damage inflicted on the Olvia, but they asserted that their efforts were successful. CENTCOM did not provide information about this alleged attack in its press statement on July 15.
The Houthis have been in conflict with the internationally-recognized Yemeni government to gain control of the country in recent years.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel, targeting ships in the Red Sea and adjacent waters.
The rebel faction justifies these attacks as supporting the Palestinian people, but they have faced international condemnation.
“The Houthis claim to act on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza, yet they target and threaten the lives of individuals from third countries who are not involved in the Gaza conflict.
“USCENTCOM will continue to work with partners to hold the Houthis accountable and diminish their military capabilities,” CENTCOM stated in its press release.
They reported destroying five Houthi UAVs on July 15, with three over the Red Sea and two in Houthi-controlled Yemeni regions.
Red Sea Standoff
The Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters in October, near the beginning of the current Israel-Hamas conflict.
This pattern of attacks has persisted for almost nine months.
The United States, along with its allies and partners, have intercepted numerous drone and missile attacks and conducted several strikes on suspected Houthi targets within Yemen.
Despite these efforts, not every vessel has been shielded from harm.
The Houthis have caused damage to dozens of vessels in their attacks, sinking at least two.
The Belize-flagged bulk carrier MV Rubymar sank on March 2, two weeks after being crippled by a Houthi ballistic missile attack on Feb. 18.
This attack marked the first successful use of an explosive drone boat by the Houthis in their operations.
A Filipino sailor on board the cargo ship lost their life in the attack.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group subsequently took over the area to assist in responding to the attacks.
