The Pentagon has accused Iran of orchestrating a drone attack on an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, amid heightened tensions in the region fueled by the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The strike on the ship resulted in no casualties and no serious damage.
In a statement to Reuters on Sunday, a spokesman for the US Defense Department claimed that Chem Pluto, a “Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated” chemical tanker was hit “by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran” some 200 nautical miles (370km) off the coast of India. Iranian officials have yet to comment on the allegation.
The Indian Coast Guard said that there had been no loss of life among the 21 crew members, adding that they had managed to douse the fire on board after what it described as a “suspected drone strike.”
Meanwhile, British maritime security firm Ambrey claimed that the vessel was “Israel-affiliated” without elaborating the link, adding that the tanker had been on its way from Saudi Arabia to India. The attack resulted in the ship sustaining “structural damage” and “some water… taken onboard,” the company stated.
The latest incident comes as Houthi rebels in Yemen, who effectively rule the country, have vowed to attack ships linked to Israel in response to IDF attacks on Gaza.
Israel launched a military operation in the enclave after the Palestinian armed group Hamas launched a raid into the country in early October, with fighting since claiming the lives of at least 1,200 Israelis and 20,000 Palestinians.
The US has previously alleged that Iran is “deeply involved” in Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, saying that Tehran has provided the rebels with drones, missiles, and intelligence. Iran has denied the allegation, insisting that “resistance groups” are acting independently and “not taking orders from Tehran to confront the war crimes and genocide committed by Israel.”
In response to the Houthi strikes, the US and several NATO allies have deployed a joint naval task force to patrol the Red Sea, shooting down numerous Yemeni drones. The rebels, however, have vowed to continue attacking Israeli-linked ships, and said any Western strikes will not go unanswered.
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