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Videos show Houthi attack on tanker and attempt to detonate bomb boat

Videos have been released showing both sides of the attack on the tanker Cordelia Moon (163,288 dwt), from the perspective of the Houthis, who launched a drone boat, and the security forces on board the ship, who tried in vain to destroy the bomb boat. The crude oil tanker, empty and heading north in the Red Sea to Suez, is damaged but continues to move away from danger.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the tanker, which they described as a British ship, and said they fired a barrage of eight ballistic and “winged” missiles, a drone and finally an unmanned surface boat. The attack began on October 1 when the Panama-registered ship was about 64 nautical miles north of Hudaydah, Yemen.

The captain reported seeing four splashes in the water. About 30 minutes later, the ship spotted a drone boat approaching on its port side. Video obtained by popular commentator Sal Mercogliano shows the armed guard on board firing at the boat but not scouting or disabling it. It makes contact and punctures ballast tank number six. Later videos obtained by Mercogliano show the decks wet from the explosion and the ship apparently trying to disperse the fumes by spraying water from fire hoses over the side.

From a distance, Houthis video shows the boat approaching and making contact. The power of the explosion can be seen in the smoke and cloud.

The Cordelia Moonadministered by India, reported that it was continuing its journey. Its AIS signal shows it traveled north to a point near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The signal indicates that it will continue its journey to Suez. There is a shipyard in Suez that previously carried out emergency repairs on a bulk carrier that was hit by a Houthi missile that left a large hole in the hull above the waterline.

Releasing the video today, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree promised that attacks would continue until attacks on Gaza and Lebanon stopped. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said in a videotaped address that the group had now targeted a total of 188 ships, while vowing to continue attacks.

Britain's Maritime Trade Operation, which monitors activity in the region, classified Tuesday's attacks on the Cordelia Moon and a bulk carrier as the 124th and 125th incidents of 2024.

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