Since November 2023, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The first attack targeted the Panama-flagged and Israeli-owned MT Bentley I, approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's Hodeidah city. Two manned small craft fired at the vessel and an unmanned small craft collided with it twice. All crew members were reported safe.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for both attacks on July 16, 2024.
The second attack occurred against the Greek-owned and managed tanker Chios Lion, carrying vegetable oil from Russia to China. The US military confirmed Houthi drones attacked the ship in the Red Sea, resulting in damage but no injuries to the crew.
Two merchant vessels, MT Bentley I and Chios Lion, were attacked in the Red Sea on July 16, 2024.
Two attacks were reported on July 16, 2024, in the Red Sea against merchant vessels. The first attack targeted the Panama-flagged and Israeli-owned MT Bentley I, approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's Hodeidah city. According to reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), two manned small craft fired at the vessel, while an unmanned small craft collided with it twice. The vessel conducted self-protection measures and all crew members were reported safe.
The second attack occurred against the Greek-owned and managed tanker Chios Lion, carrying vegetable oil from Russia to China. The US military confirmed that Houthi drones attacked the ship in the Red Sea, resulting in damage but no injuries to the crew. CENTCOM identified Bentley I as a Panama-flagged and Monaco-operated tanker.
Since November 2023, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The attacks come amid heightened tensions between various regional powers, including Israel and Iran.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for both attacks on July 16, 2024. Both incidents serve as a reminder of the ongoing instability in the region and the risks associated with maritime trade in these waters.
Houthis launched attacks against MT Bentley I, a Panama-flagged and Monaco-operated tanker carrying vegetable oil from Russia to China, in the Red Sea on July 16, 2024. The ship is Israeli-owned.
The US military downed five Houthi drones in response to the attacks.
CENTCOM identified Bentley I as a Panama-flagged and Monaco-operated tanker.
Houthis launched attacks on vessels in the Red Sea on a given day.
One of the attacks involved a product tanker named Bentley I which experienced three small boats attacking it. One of them failed to explode and the other two exchanged gunfire with the tanker's security guards before withdrawing.
Another crude oil tanker named Chios Lion reported damage in a similar position
An unidentified vessel was targeted 15 nautical miles southwest of Mukha, Yemen and experienced two explosions about one hour apart.
The Houthi spokesperson acknowledged attacks on the product tanker Olvia in the Mediterranean and another containership named MSC Unific VI in the Gulf of Aden.
