Shocking video shows moment huge explosion engulfs Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker in the Red Sea after it was targeted by Huthi rebels

Dramatic footage shows nan infinitesimal Houthi rebels took purpose astatine a crude lipid tanker successful nan Red Sea earlier causing nan hapless alloy to burst into flames.

Chios Lion, a Liberia-flagged lipid tanker was struck connected its larboard broadside during nan onslaught connected Tuesday, Reuters reports.

The Yemen-based Houthi group has been targeting shipping successful nan Red Sea and Gulf of Aden complete nan past 9 months, claiming its actions are successful nonstop consequence to Israel's warfare connected Hamas successful Gaza - an assertion that has been many times dismissed by nan UK and its allies. 

According to nan rebels, their latest onslaught was successful retaliation for an Israeli airstrike connected nan confederate Gaza Strip metropolis of Khan Younis connected Saturday. 

An unmanned watercraft is said to person carried retired nan attack, though only insignificant harm has been reported.

The battle was portion of a swarm of attacks by nan Houthis connected nan alloy and different vessel sailing astir 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen's larboard metropolis of Hodeidah. 

In nan aftermath of nan incident, officials are assessing nan harm and investigating a imaginable lipid spill, nan Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said connected Tuesday.

'While primitively headed south, pursuing nan onslaught nan alloy turned astir and backmost northbound retired of nan threat area to further measure harm and analyse imaginable lipid spillage,' nan JMIC said successful a statement.

It added that nan skipper and unit were safe.

The head of Chios Lion did not instantly respond to requests for comment.

Yemen's Houthis said they targeted Chios Lion and Bentley I pinch ballistic missiles, drones and booby-trapped boats.

Since November, Houthi attacks person exacted an economical toll connected world waste and acquisition by forcing vessel owners to way vessels distant from nan Suez Canal shortcut and toward nan longer, much costly way astir Africa.

They besides airs a consequence to nan situation successful nan shape of spilled cargo specified arsenic lipid and fertilizer, arsenic good arsenic substance utilized to powerfulness vessels.