Moment when the crew of a Red Sea oil tanker opens fire on an explosives-laden Houthi drone boat before slamming into its hull with a fireball
The brave but futile attempts by armed guards to shoot down an explosives-laden drone boat operated by Yemen’s Houthi rebels before it crashed into the side of an oil tanker have been captured in breathtaking video footage.
A remote-controlled boat carrying explosives punched a gaping hole in the side of the Panama-flagged Cordelia Moon as it sailed through the Red Sea on Tuesday.
The tanker, previously owned by a British company, went up in flames when the massive blast tore through the port side tank and sent thick plumes of black smoke into the air.
The devastating attack, quickly claimed by the Iran-backed Houthis, took place about 70 miles (110 kilometers) from the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, which has suffered a series of Israeli airstrikes in recent days.
Armed crew members were seen desperately trying to fire on the approaching ship as it raced towards the hull.
A trio of guards dressed in body armor brandished assault rifles and fired a volley of shots at the Navy drone, but were powerless to prevent it from ramming the ship.
Moments later, a punishing explosion sounded and the tanker’s deck was clouded with smoke as the sirens began to blare.
Footage has emerged of the moment armed crew members desperately tried to fire on the approaching ship as it raced towards its hull
A trio of guards dressed in body armor brandished assault rifles and fired a volley of shots at the Navy drone, but were powerless to stop it from ramming the ship.
The oil tanker Cordelia Moon bursts into flames after being hit by a missile in the Red Sea, off Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeida, in this screenshot from a video released on October 1, 2024
A shocking clip captured the moment the Panamanian-flagged Cordelia Moon went up in flames as a massive explosion ripped through the port side tank
The Panama-flagged tanker Cordelia Moon sails through the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, August 25, 2024
Fortunately, the ship reported that the crew was unharmed, but the captain of a nearby ship told U.S. Navy officials operating in the area that he heard four loud splashes at the time of the attack.
It is suspected that these sounds were the result of rockets missing the Cordelia moon and landing in the sea.
A Houthi spokesman said their attack on the tanker consisted of a drone boat carrying explosives, along with an aerial drone and eight missiles.
A second ship, the Liberia-flagged bulker en route to the Suez Canal, also came under fire earlier this week.
It suffered significant damage after being hit by a missile about 177 kilometers northwest of Hodeidah, according to British security firm Ambrey and maritime sources.
The attacks mark the Houthis’ first attack on commercial ships in weeks, heightening fears that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon could spark a broader regional war.
Just a day earlier, the Houthis had warned of an escalating military action against Israel after their forces reportedly shot down a US military drone over Yemeni airspace.
It comes as Israel continues its brutal offensive in Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza.
The devastating attack, quickly claimed by the Iran-backed Houthis, took place about 70 miles from the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
Fortunately, the crew is reportedly unharmed
Yemeni tribesmen belonging to the Houthi movement take part in a popular parade and rally in support of the Palestinians and against the US-British airstrikes on Yemen on February 7, 2024 in Sana’a, Yemen
New Houthi recruits ride in a vehicle during a parade against the United States and Israel, in Sana’a, Yemen, February 7, 2024
Israel’s air force carried out another devastating airstrike overnight near Beirut airport in an attempt to wipe out Hezbollah’s heir apparent after former chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed a week ago.
The Israeli Air Force launched wave after wave of punishing attacks in Beirut’s southern suburbs last night and into this morning, hitting the Dahiyeh area where Hezbollah’s underground headquarters are located.
But a huge cacophony of explosions that shook buildings for miles around suggested that Israel had deployed even more Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) – bombs designed to penetrate deep into underground structures.
According to unconfirmed reports in Israeli media, the IAF targeted Hashem Safieddine, another hardline cleric and cousin of Nasrallah, who many analysts said was a shoo-in to replace the slain Hezbollah leader.
It is unclear whether Saffieddine was present at the scene of the attack.
A photographer takes cover as smoke rises in the background after an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, October 4, 2024
Smoke and flames rise over the Dahieh area after the Israeli army carried out airstrikes in the south of the capital Beirut, Lebanon on October 3, 2024
Smoke rises over the southern outskirts of Beirut and surrounding areas, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon, October 4, 2024
Residents take cover after an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, October 4, 2024
The intense bombardment came after the IDF issued another evacuation order for communities across southern Lebanon.
Lebanese citizens were ordered to leave Nabatieh, a provincial capital, and other communities north of the Litani River, which formed the northern edge of the border zone established by the U.N. Security Council after the 2006 war in a bipartisan resolution. accuse others. violate.
Israel also carried out one of the deadliest attacks on the West Bank in decades overnight, reportedly killing at least 18 people in the Tulkarm refugee camp, Palestinian health authorities claim.
The IDF said the attack killed Hamas leader Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi, whom he accused of taking part in numerous attacks.
