As the US Department of Defense reported, a chemical tanker was hit by an Iranian drone off the coast of India this Saturday (December 23).
According to the Pentagon, a “disposable attack drone fired from Iran” hit the ship MV Chem Pluto around 10 a.m. (local time), about 370 kilometers off the coast of India in the Indian Ocean.
The Pentagon said it was the “seventh Iranian attack on commercial vessels since 2021.” However, there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident.
A brief fire aboard the ship was extinguished without causing any injuries, the US added.
The Indian Navy reported that it responded to a request for assistance and sent an aircraft to ensure the safety of the ship and crew. Additionally, an Indian Navy warship was sent to provide support.
The company would be linked to the Israeli tycoon
The tanker MV Chem Pluto is owned by a Japanese company, operated by a Dutch company and sails under the Liberian flag. India's defense ministry said he was transporting crude oil from Saudi Arabia to India.
According to the American newspaper Wall Street Journal, the Dutch company that operates the ship is “connected to the Israeli shipowner Idan Ofer.”
This was the first time since the conflict between Israel and the Islamist fundamentalist group Hamas began on October 7 that the Pentagon openly accused Iran of directly attacking ships.
Iranbacked Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel and several other countries, as well as the European Union.
Maritime risks
The incident on the MS Chem Pluto highlights the heightened maritime risks beyond the Red Sea, where Yemenbased and Iranbacked Houthi militias have launched more than 100 missile and drone attacks on ships since the Gaza conflict began.
The attacks are forcing ships traveling from Asia to Europe to circumnavigate the African continent via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, increasing transportation costs.
The United States and its allies have strengthened naval security in the Red Sea to protect maritime trade.
ek (AFP, Portal)