An unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) struck a merchant vessel in the Indian Ocean, causing damage but no casualties, according to reports from the UK Maritime Trade Operations and maritime security firm Ambrey. The ship in question, a Liberia-flagged chemical/products tanker, was affiliated with Israel. The incident occurred off India’s Verval, with the vessel having last visited Saudi Arabia and heading for India at the time of the attack.
The British military and Ambrey noted some structural damage to the vessel, along with water ingress. Despite the attack, no immediate claim of responsibility has been made. Last month, an Israeli-owned cargo ship was reportedly hit by a suspected drone attack attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Indian Ocean.
In the Red Sea, there has been an increase in drone and missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthis following the Israel-Hamas war. The Houthis have expressed support for Hamas, leading them to target commercial shipping associated with Israel. Shippers are now altering routes to avoid the risk, opting for longer journeys around the southern tip of Africa.
The White House has accused Iran of significant involvement in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Pentagon reported over 100 drone and missile attacks by Houthis, affecting 10 merchant vessels from more than 35 countries.
In a concerning development, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, has warned of the potential closure of the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, and other waterways if the United States and its allies persist in what he referred to as “crimes” in Gaza.
