Houthis Target Tankers Carrying Russian Oil in Red Sea

Yemeni Houthis, who have claimed to be “cooperating” with Russia, attacked two tankers carrying Russian cargo in the Red Sea on July 15, 2024. The MT Chios Lion, owned by Greek interests and flying the flag of Liberia, was transporting over 100,000 tons of Russian crude oil. The attack involved three surface vessels, two small boats, and an unmanned surface vessel targeting the BENTLEY I tanker, which departed from Taman port.

Andriy Klymenko, head of the monitoring group at the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies and editor-in-chief of BlackSeaNews, reported the incidents. He noted the irony that allies of the Kremlin had attacked tankers carrying Russian oil, including the CHIOS LION owned by Greek shipowners known for adhering to price stability while transporting Russian oil from Russian ports to destinations like India or China.

The attack on the BENTLEY I tanker, owned by an Israeli-associated entity, underscores the complex dynamics in the region. The United States Central Command confirmed the Houthis' responsibility for the attacks on both tankers.

In March 2024, Yemeni Houthis had declared cooperation with Russia and China to challenge Western dominance, aiming to weaken countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Their leader, Abdel Malik al-Houthi, had previously stated intentions to target vessels associated with Israel in the Indian Ocean.