A drone strike caused damage to a merchant vessel off the coast of India, as reported by two maritime agencies. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The targeted vessel is said to be affiliated with Israel, according to one of the maritime agencies.
Jerusalem authorities believe that Tehran was directly responsible for the attack, as per reports from Hebrew media. Although there is no immediate claim of responsibility, the incident occurs in the context of increased drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid ongoing conflict with Israel, have launched over 100 drone and missile attacks targeting 10 merchant vessels in the Red Sea, according to the Pentagon. The recent strike caused a fire on the vessel, a Liberia-flagged chemical/products tanker, as reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The ship, reportedly affiliated with Israel, was en route from Saudi Arabia to India, according to maritime security firm Ambrey.
Ambrey noted that the drone strike hit the stern of the tanker, resulting in a fire that was subsequently extinguished without harm to the crew. The vessel sustained structural damage, and some water entered the ship during the incident. The maritime tensions in the region continue to escalate, with the situation demanding close attention and diplomatic efforts to address the growing challenges.
