Watch: Houthi Rebels Attack Panama-Flagged Tanker in Red Sea

The Iranian-backed Houthis have released new video footage of an unmanned surface vessel (USV) attack on the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Cordelia Moon in the Red Sea.

The incident, which occurred on October 1, involved multiple missile strikes and a hit by an USV. The vessel was unladen and in ballast condition at the time of the attack.

According to the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), the vessel was targeted while navigating the southern Red Sea, approximately 64 nautical miles from Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The attack unfolded in several stages, according to the ship’s Master:

1. At 0150 UTC, three projectiles landed near the ship’s port bow.
2. At 0253 UTC, a fourth projectile splashed 100 meters from the aft starboard quarter.
3. At 0500 UTC, the ship was struck by a USV on its port side.

The JMIC confirmed that the Cordelia Moon sustained damage but did not require assistance. All crew members are reported safe, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call. It also assesses that vessel was likely targeted due to affiliations within the vessel’s operation structure.

The current threat assessment indicates that vessels with Israeli, United States, or United Kingdom associations are at the highest risk, but ships within company structures that have been identified as making port calls to Israel are also potential targets.

As tensions continue to rise in the Red Sea, this latest incident underscores the dangers to vessels and their crews in the region, particularly those with connections to countries perceived as adversaries by the Houthi rebels.

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