A drone launched from Iran hit a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean early Saturday, the US Department of Defense said.
“The motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned and Dutch-operated chemical tanker was struck at approximately 10am local time (6am GMT) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles off the coast of India, by a one-way attack drone which was fired from Iran,” a Pentagon spokesman told Reuters.
The incident highlights heightened regional tensions and new risks to shipping lanes after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
The Iranian government, as well as its allied militant forces in Yemen, have openly criticized the Israeli government’s military operations in Gaza.
The Pentagon confirmed the drone was launched from Iran. Reuters
DRONE ATTACK ON MV CHEM PLUTO-Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai received information about a fire on board MV Chem Pluto. A Merchant Ship with 20 Indian & 01 Vietnamese Crew was reportedly attacked by a suspected drone attack on an aerial platform. (1/6) pic.twitter.com/CpioW9MfT9
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) December 23, 2023
Thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict, according to aid monitors.
A Pentagon statement said this was Iran’s “seventh attack on commercial shipping since 2021.”
There were no casualties as a result of the attack and a brief fire on the tanker was extinguished.
The incident took place just 200 nautical miles off the coast of India.
A spokesman for Iran’s delegation to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
