Yemen’s Houthi rebels attack oil tanker “Chios Lion” in the Red Sea

Video: watson/lucas zollinger

19.07.2024, 15:1919.07.2024, 15:49

On July 15, Houthi rebels attacked a crude oil tanker approximately 97 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. Videos of the attack, shared by the Yemeni terrorist militia on social media, show a spectacular explosion.

Video: watson/lucas zollinger

According to the British Royal Navy, the explosion was caused by an unmanned boat that rammed the crude oil tanker. Despite this, the attack did not result in devastating damage. The affected ship, the “Chios Lion”, remained maneuverable, and the crew was unharmed.

The Chios Lion is a 14-year-old crude oil tanker sailing under the flag of Liberia. While significantly smaller than the world’s largest tankers, which can carry up to 3.7 million barrels of oil, at 243 meters long, this ship can still carry up to 700,000 barrels.

Oil trail visible from space

Due to the minor damage, the “Chios Lion” was able to proceed to the nearest port. However, the attack apparently caused a leak, resulting in a 220-kilometer-long oil trail visible from space, as documented by the British-based non-governmental organization “Conflict and Environment Observatory” (CEOBS).

This is significant because the oil spill is in close proximity to the marine protected area near Farasan Island.

Attack likely to harm own allies

The Houthi rebels have intensified attacks on ships in the Red Sea since October 2023. They claimed responsibility for the attack on the “Chios Lion”, stating it was a response to the Israeli bombing of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Aligned with Hamas in the Middle East conflict, the Yemeni terrorists aim to eliminate the state of Israel. As many Western nations support Israel, the Houthis seek to harm them by obstructing the critical trade route in the Red Sea.

Houthi supporters at a rally in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. Palestinian flags can be seen in the background. Bild: keystone

However, this route is not only crucial for the West. The Houthi rebels are backed by Iran, which maintains close ties with both Russia and China. Consequently, the Houthis can be viewed as indirect allies of the two superpowers. In line with this assessment, Bloomberg reported in March that the Houthis had notified China and Russia that their ships might pass through the Red Sea region without harm.

Current ship tracking data indicates that the “Chios Lion” last docked at a Russian port. According to the independent Russian news agency The Moscow Times, the tanker was carrying 100,000 barrels of crude oil from Tuapse. This oil was likely intended for transport to Asia, where China is the primary buyer. There has been no response from the two superpowers thus far.

More shipping videos:

How cargo ships protect themselves from pirates

Video: watson/Michael Shepherd

Container ship rams three cranes in Turkish port – one injured

Video: watson/Lucas Zollinger

TikToker shows secret places on board the cruise giants

Video: watson/Lucas Zollinger

The forgotten humanitarian catastrophe: The war in Yemen

1 / 14

The forgotten humanitarian catastrophe: The war in Yemen

It’s five minutes to midnight: Yemen is facing (another) famine. In some areas of the country, one in four young children is acutely malnourished. In total, around half a million young children are affected.

Quelle: Keystone / John Arhab

Cast off for the “Icon of the Seas” – what you need to know regarding the largest cruise ship

Video: watson

This might also interest you:

Anger at mass tourism in Barcelona is growing.

Houthi Rebels Attack Oil Tanker in the Red Sea, Causing Oil Spill

On July 15, 2024, Houthi rebels launched an attack on a crude oil tanker approximately 97 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. The Yemeni terrorist militia shared videos of the attack on social media.

Despite a spectacular explosion, which according to the British Royal Navy was triggered by an unmanned boat ramming the tanker, there was no devastating damage. The affected vessel, the “Chios Lion,” remained maneuverable following the attack, and the crew was unharmed. The “Chios Lion” is a 14-year-old crude oil tanker sailing under the Liberian flag. While it is much smaller than the world’s largest tankers, which can carry up to 3.7 million barrels of oil, a ship of this size can still carry up to 700,000 barrels.

Oil Trail Visible from Space

The minor damage allowed the “Chios Lion” to head for the nearest port. However, the attack apparently caused a leak, resulting in a 220-kilometer-long oil trail visible from space, as documented by the British-based non-governmental organization “Conflict and Environment Observatory” (CEOBS).

This incident is concerning because the oil spill is close to the marine protected area near Farasan Island.

Attack Likely to Harm Own Allies

The Houthi rebels have escalated their attacks on ships in the Red Sea since October 2023. They claimed responsibility for the “Chios Lion” attack, stating it was retaliation for the Israeli bombing of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. The Yemeni terrorists are aligned with Hamas terrorists in the Middle East conflict and aim to eliminate the state of Israel. Because many Western states support Israel, the Houthi aim to harm them by disrupting the vital trade route in the Red Sea.

This route is not only crucial for the West, however. The Houthi rebels are backed by Iran, which maintains close ties with both Russia and China. Therefore, the Houthi can be considered indirect allies of these two superpowers. In line with this, Bloomberg reported in March 2024 that the Houthis had informed China and Russia that their ships might safely pass through the Red Sea.

Yet, ship tracking data revealed that the “Chios Lion’s” last port of call was a Russian port. According to The Moscow Times, an independent Russian news agency, the tanker was carrying 100,000 barrels of crude oil from Tuapse, likely destined for Asia, where China is the largest buyer. No reaction from the two superpowers has been reported thus far.

More Shipping Videos

Here are some other videos you may be interested in:

How Cargo Ships Protect Themselves From Pirates

Video: watson/Michael Shepherd

Container Ship Rams Three Cranes in Turkish Port – One Injured

Video: watson/Lucas Zollinger

TikToker Shows Secret Places On Board the Cruise Giants

Video: watson/Lucas Zollinger

The Forgotten Humanitarian Catastrophe: The War in Yemen

It’s five minutes to midnight: Yemen is facing (another) famine. In some areas of the country, one in four young children is acutely malnourished. In total, around half a million young children are affected.

Cast Off for the “Icon of the Seas” – What You Need to Know About the Largest Cruise Ship

Video: watson