[El Gato]

These weapons have a history of not detonating when they hit a thinly armored/unarmored ship. But the rocket motor continues to burn causing major conflagrations. IIRC, HMS Sheffield burnt out and had to be sunk during the Falklands War and USS Stark had a major fire during the Tanker War (annex to the Iran- Iraq War) when struck by anti-ship cruise missiles. Both missiles were Exocets. If I am not mistaken, the Chinese-designed, Iranian-produced missile involved in this attack is essentially a copy of the Exocet.

If it was a C-802, as has been reported, then it's more like a Harpoon than the sort of Exocet that got the Sheffield and the Stark. Of course any left over jet fuel for it's turbine engine could have much the same effect. Latest model Exocet also uses turbine engine rather than solid rocket.

[Captain Rhino]

I have limited knowledge in this area, so I defer to your expertise concerning the differences in their propulsion systems.