Merchant vessel hit by drone attack in Indian Ocean

A drone strike damaged a merchant ship in the Indian Ocean, but fortunately, there were no casualties.

According to the information from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military agency, and Ambrey, a maritime security company, the tanker transporting chemicals/products under the flag of Liberia was linked to Israel.

"This fact raises suspicions that the attacks could be connected to the recent assaults carried out by Yemen's Houthi rebels, as they increasingly target ships in the Red Sea, simultaneously referencing Israel's conflict in the Gaza Strip," the publication notes.

Attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial ships in the Red sea

Since November, Yemeni Houthi rebels have been conducting attacks on trade vessels with ties to Israel in the Red Sea. On December 16, a British destroyer with a Sea Viper missile reportedly intercepted and destroyed a drone that was attempting to target a commercial ship in the Red Sea.

Last week, a winged missile from a Houthi ground-based facility struck the commercial tanker Strinda under the flag of Norway. The vessel suffered severe damage, resulting in a fire on board.

The United States is considering the possibility of launching strikes against the Houthis in response to their attacks on trade vessels.

On December 19, the Pentagon announced the initiation of a special operation named Prosperity Guardian to safeguard maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Over 20 countries have already agreed to join the coalition led by the United States to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.