A drone strike inflicted damage on a merchant vessel in the Indian Ocean without causing casualties, according to two maritime agencies. The UK Maritime Trade Operations and Ambrey reported the incident, involving a Liberia-flagged chemical/products tanker affiliated with Israel. The vessel, en route from Saudi Arabia to India, suffered structural damage and took on water.
While no entity claimed responsibility for the strike, last month, an Israeli-owned cargo ship was reportedly hit in the Indian Ocean in a suspected drone attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The vessel, managed by an Israeli-affiliated company, incurred damage when an unmanned aerial vehicle exploded nearby.
Amid rising drone and missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea following the Israel-Hamas conflict, commercial shipping linked to Israel has become a target. Houthis, expressing support for Hamas, declared their intent to persist in targeting such vessels. This situation has compelled shippers to alter routes, opting for longer journeys around the southern tip of Africa.
The White House asserted Iran’s deep involvement in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis have launched over 100 drone and missile attacks, affecting 10 merchant vessels from more than 35 countries, according to the Pentagon. An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, warned of potential closure of the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, and other waterways if the U.S. and its allies continued what he termed as “crimes” in Gaza. The geopolitical tensions in the region continue to escalate, prompting concerns over the security of maritime trade routes.
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