A drone launched from Iran was responsible for an attack on a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, the US Department of Defence has said.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon said a motor vessel called CHEM PLUTO was struck at around 6am UK time, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, in a “one-way attack drone fried from Iran”.
The Pentagon added a fire was extinguished on board and nobody was hurt in the attack, which it says was Iran’s seventh on commercial shipping since 2021.
It was the first such known attack so far away from the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war began.
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A spokesperson for the Iranian delegation at the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ambrey, a Hereford-based global maritime risk firm, earlier said the vessel was “Israel-affiliated” – though did not offer detail on the links – and had last called in Saudi Arabia before heading towards India.
“Merchant vessels are advised these types of attacks are typically targeted at Israel-affiliated shipping, but have in the past mistakenly hit previously Israel-affiliated vessels,” the firm added.
There has been an increasing number of threats to vessels off the coast of Yemen, with Yemeni rebel group the Houthis saying their attacks are aimed at Israel-linked ships and are in support of Palestinians under siege by Israel in Gaza.
The Indian Navy responded after the shipping company requested assistance, an official said.
“Indian Navy had dispatched an aircraft, which arrived overhead the MV (merchant vessel),” a statement by the navy said.
“Safety of the crew and ship was ascertained. A warship has also been dispatched to provide any assistance as required.”
The Indian Coast Guard said the vessel had 20 Indian nationals and one Vietnamese on board.
Another incident took place in the Red Sea on Saturday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.
Approximately 50 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Yemen, there were multiple reports of drones flying low above a vessel before exploding about 1.5 nautical miles from the ship.
Vessels were advised to transit with caution, the agency said in a statement.
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Why are the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea?
Houthi militants threaten Red Sea vessels
Major global shipping firms have been forced to reroute their vessels in the wake of drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants.
Many vessels are taking a longer and costlier route around the southern tip of Africa.
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Navy shoots attack drone – explained
The British, US and French navies have responded by shooting down Houthi drones and missiles.
More than 20 countries including the UK have agreed to form a US-led coalition to help safeguard vessels from Houthi attacks, with at least one Royal Navy destroyer involved.
Washington launched Operation Prosperity Guardian earlier this week, saying more than a dozen countries had agreed to participate in an effort involving joint patrols in Red Sea waters near Yemen.
Iran has denied US accusations it was involved in planning Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
