US Pentagon: Irani Drone Targeted Chemical Tanker Carrying 20 Indians Off Gujarat Coast

According to the US Pentagon, Irani drone targeted a chemical tanker on Saturday off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat, in the Arabian Sea, which was carrying about 20 Indian crew members. The Pentagon claimed in a statement on Sunday that the attack happened at around 10 a.m. local time and that no one was hurt on board the Japanese-owned ship. They also said that the fire was put out. The US military “remains in communication with the vessel as it continues toward a destination in India,” the statement added.

Increased risk to shipping lines after Hamas attack on Israel

“The motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker was struck at approximately 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran,” a Pentagon spokesperson told news agency.

The event brings to light the rising tensions in the region and the increased risk to shipping lines following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. The Israeli government’s military action in Gaza has drawn public criticism from the Iranian government and its affiliated armed forces in Yemen. Aid monitors report that thousands of Palestinian residents have died in the ongoing war.

Seventh Iranian attack

The Pentagon statement said this was the “seventh Irani attack on commercial shipping since 2021.” A spokesman for the Iranian representation to the UN reportedly did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The incident occurred in the midst of a barrage of missile and drone attacks on a crucial Red Sea shipping channel by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the hit.

The commercial ship MV Chem Pluto is receiving assistance from the Indian Coast Guard and Navy. According to officials, the ship was transporting chemicals from the Jubail port in Saudi Arabia to Mangalore. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports that it was struck at approximately 11.30 am, 217 nautical miles from Porbandar.

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Statement from the Indian Coast Guard

The Indian Coast Guard announced in a statement late at night that the ship has begun to head towards Mumbai after completing damage assessment and repairs to its power generation systems.

“The Coast Guard Dornier aircraft has sanitised the area and established communication with Chem Pluto. The vessel has started making way towards Mumbai post undertaking damage assessment and repairs on its power generation systems,” it said.

“The vessel is likely to enter Mumbai and sought escort assistance due to steering issues. Indian Coast Guard Ship Vikram will be escorting the ship during its passage. The Indian Coast Guard Operations Centre is monitoring the situation closely,” it said.

The 21-person crew was quoted by the UKMTO as saying that everyone was safe and that an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was the source of the attack, which resulted in an explosion and fire that cut off the ship’s power supply.

“The Indian Coast Guard Maritime Coordination Centre (MRCC) established real time communication with the vessel’s agent and ascertained nil loss of life and assured all assistance. It was also learnt that the vessel fire has been doused by the crew,” said the coast guard statement.