Iranian drone attacks ship in Indian Ocean - Pentagon
Iranian drone attacks ship in Indian ocean (photo: BOB ADMAS / atalayar.com)
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that a chemical tanker was hit in the Indian Ocean by a drone launched from Iran. It happened 200 nautical miles off the coast of India, reports Reuters.
A Pentagon spokesperson told reporters that the drone attack on Saturday morning was carried out by a "one-way attack drone fired from Iran."
It is specified that the Liberian-flagged tanker CHEM PLUTO, owned by Japan and the Netherlands, was hit.
There were no casualties as a result of the attack. A fire broke out on board and was quickly extinguished.
The Pentagon said in a statement that this is the "seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021."
Background
Yesterday, December 23, it became known about a drone attack in the Indian Ocean on a merchant ship flying the Liberian flag.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and Ambrey, a maritime security company, the Liberian-flagged chemical/food tanker was linked to Israel.
Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea
The incident took place against the backdrop of an increasing number of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. They are carried out by Yemeni Houthis.
According to the White House, Iran was "deeply involved" in planning the Yemeni movement's operations against merchant ships in the Red Sea.
Tehran's intelligence was critical to the attacks on the ships, the U.S. says. Iran denies any involvement of the Houthis in these attacks.
Since November, Yemeni Houthis have been attacking merchant ships with ties to Israel in the Red Sea. As reported, on December 16, a British destroyer shot down a drone attempting to attack a merchant ship in the Red Sea with a Sea Viper missile.
Earlier it was reported that the United States was considering a strike against the Houthis because of the attacks on merchant ships.
On December 19, the Pentagon announced the launch of a special operation called Prosperity Guardian to protect shipping in the Red Sea. More than 20 countries have already agreed to join the U.S.-led coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemeni Houthis.
