Iranian Attack Drone Strikes Chemical Tanker in Indian Ocean
In a recent incident escalating tensions in the region, a chemical tanker traversing the Indian Ocean fell victim to an Iranian attack drone on Saturday, as confirmed by a statement from a US Department of Defense official. The vessel in question, the Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, was targeted approximately 200 nautical miles from the coast of India at 10 a.m. local time.
This marks the seventh attack by Iran on commercial shipping since 2021. The attack drone, identified as a one-way model designed for impact rather than return, was launched from Iran. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported, and the onboard fire has been successfully extinguished.
The vessel, en route from Saudi Arabia and carrying 20 Indian crew members along with one Vietnamese, is now under escort by a patrol vessel as it heads towards Mumbai. The Indian Coast Guard swiftly responded to the incident, dispatching a patrol vessel and a maritime surveillance aircraft to assess the situation.
In a separate series of events, US Central Command reported similar incidents involving Iranian attack drones in the southern Red Sea. A crude oil tanker was hit, resulting in no injuries, while another chemical tanker narrowly avoided an attack. Additionally, Houthi rebels in Yemen have been responsible for over 100 attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea over the past four weeks.
The US released declassified intelligence on Friday, suggesting Iran’s deep involvement in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. This information comes amid the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a maritime coalition aimed at bolstering security in the southern Red Sea, with more than 20 nations joining the initiative. The situation remains fluid as international actors respond to the escalating maritime tensions.
A chemical tanker operating in the Indian Ocean was struck by an Iranian attack drone Saturday, a US Department of Defense official said, the seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021. https://t.co/vpmZx1ivE8
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) December 24, 2023