An Israel-affiliated chemical tanker was hit by a drone launched from Iran within the Indian Ocean on Saturday, the US Division of Defence mentioned.
The Liberia-flagged Chem Pluto was struck at round 10am (native time) within the Indian Ocean, practically 200 nautical miles from India’s western coast of Veraval in Gujarat, the Pentagon claimed.
It added that the one-way assault drone was launched from Iran.
The vessel, operated by a Dutch entity and owned by a Japanese firm, suffered some structural injury however the fireplace on board was rapidly extinguished, officers mentioned. No casualties have been reported.
The vessel had reportedly final known as in Saudi Arabia and was destined for India’s southern Mangalore port on the time of the assault.
The Indian Navy responded after the transport firm requested help, a naval official mentioned.
“Indian Navy had dispatched an plane, which arrived overhead the MV (service provider vessel),” a press release mentioned.
“Security of the crew and ship was ascertained. A warship has additionally been dispatched to offer any help as required.”
The Indian Coast Guard mentioned it deployed its ship, Vikram, on Saturday night time and each vessels have been anticipated to achieve Mumbai by Monday. Maritime safety agency Ambrey mentioned the vessel was heading from Saudi Arabia to India, and was linked to Israel.
In a serious escalation of a collection of maritime assaults in Center Jap waters, Yemeni Houthis rebels have targetted a number of vessels amid Israel’s warfare towards Hamas in Gaza. Main international transport corporations have since rerouted their vessels after assaults within the Purple Sea, taking the longer and costlier route across the southern tip of Africa.
The US warship, Laboon, individually shot down 4 assault drones “originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen” on Saturday, the Pentagon’s Central Command (Centcom) mentioned in a submit on X, previously Twitter.
Centcom mentioned Houthi-controlled rebels fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into southern Purple Sea transport lanes with “no ships reported being impacted”.
It mentioned an assault drone additionally got here near a Norwegian-flagged tanker, MV Blaamanen, whereas one other tanker, the Gabon-flagged MV Saibaba, was “hit by a one-way assault drone”.
“These assaults signify the 14th and 15th assaults on industrial transport by Houthi-controlled militants since 17 October,” Centcom mentioned.
The Indian Navy clarified that 25 Indian crew members onboard the MV Saibaba have been secure.
Final month, an Israeli-owned cargo ship was hit in a suspected drone assault by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps within the Indian Ocean, US officers mentioned. The Malta-flagged vessel managed by an Israeli-affiliated firm suffered damages when the drone exploded near it.