Houthi Maritime Drone and UAV Strike Hits US-linked Oil Tanker in Red Sea

ADEN, Yemen — Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a coordinated attack on the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion in the Red Sea, utilizing a sea-based suicide drone and several unmanned aerial vehicles, according to military officials and maritime tracking agencies on Thursday.

The attack, which took place in international waters, involved an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that struck the port side of the tanker, causing a significant explosion. Footage released by the Houthi military media showed the moment of impact, which sent a massive plume of smoke and water into the air. Despite the intensity of the blast, the vessel's crew reported no injuries, and the tanker remained seaworthy with minor damage to its hull.

A spokesperson for the Houthi military, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the operation, stating the vessel was targeted for violating the group's ban on ships entering ports in occupied Palestine. Saree added that the strike was part of a broader military escalation in response to recent U.S. and Israeli operations in the region, particularly following the outbreak of direct hostilities with Iran.

The U.S. Central Command confirmed the incident, noting that such attacks continue to threaten international shipping lanes and environmental stability in the Red Sea. Maritime security experts expressed concern over the potential for an oil spill, as the Chios Lion was carrying a full cargo of crude oil at the time of the engagement.

The incident marks a continued shift in Houthi tactics toward the more frequent use of sophisticated, low-cost maritime drones that are difficult for traditional naval radar systems to intercept in the cluttered waters of the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

GAROWE ONLINE