Houthis Attack Oil Tanker in Red Sea: Damage Assessment and Environmental Risks

The Liberia-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion was attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea, prompting an investigation of potential oil spills. The vessel sustained minor damage from unmanned watercraft, forcing it to reroute for safety and damage assessment. The attack is linked to a broader geopolitical conflict involving Yemen and Israel.

The Liberia-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion is assessing damage and investigating a potential oil spill after being attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea, according to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) on Tuesday.

An unmanned watercraft inflicted minor damage on Chios Lion's port side on Monday as part of a swarm of Houthi attacks on the vessel and another ship sailing 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen's port city of Hodeidah. Initially heading south, the vessel turned north after the attack to assess damage and investigate potential oil spillage, JMIC said.

The captain and crew were reported safe, though the manager of Chios Lion did not comment. Yemen's Houthis claimed responsibility, targeting Chios Lion and Bentley I with missiles, drones, and booby-trapped boats in response to an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip. These Houthi attacks since November have forced ships to reroute, impacting global trade and posing environmental risks from potential spills.