A drone attack on Saturday ignited a fire within ‘MV Chem Pluto’, a crewed Merchant ship carrying 20 Indian nationals, striking it off the Indian Coast. The affected vessel is an Israel-affiliated merchant ship in the Arabian Sea off India's west coast.
The Strike by an unmanned aerial vehicle on the merchant vessel that struck it off the coast of India near Verval was reported by two maritime agencies: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and maritime security firm Ambrey. However no casualties have been reported.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) of the British military stated that authorities were investigating the attack, highlighting that the fire onboard had been extinguished.
Ambrey, a maritime security firm, conveyed in a statement that “the vessel, identified as a "Liberia-flagged chemical/products tanker," had affiliations with Israel. It further noted, "Some structural damage was also reported, and some water was taken onboard. The vessel was Israel-affiliated, having last called Saudi Arabia and being en route to India at the time.
The incident, reported by both agencies, took place 200 nautical miles southwest of Veraval. According to defence officials, the vessel MV Chem Pluto, was carrying crude oil.
Indian Defence response
Ambrey reported that the Indian navy was actively responding to the situation.
Indian Defence officials have indicated that the Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Vikram is en route to the merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea, situated 217 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast. Defence officials have confirmed that All crew Members, including approximately 20 Indians, are safe.
he vessel's intended destination was Mangalore from a port in Saudi Arabia, as communicated by Indian Navy officials.
Based on received information, the fire aboard the merchant ship has been extinguished, but its functioning has been adversely affected. The ICGS Vikram, originally deployed for the patrol of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, was redirected toward the distressed merchant ship.
Iran’s Involvement speculated
No immediate claim of responsibility has been made for the strike.
However this attack occurred amidst a series of drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels on a crucial shipping lane in the Red Sea. Last month, a cargo ship owned by Israel faced a suspected drone attack attributed to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Indian Ocean, as per a US official.
Accusations against Iran for carrying out attacks in the proximity of its waters have led to claims attributing Iran's involvement in this recent attack as well.
The White House has asserted that Iran is deeply involved in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Pentagon reports that the Houthis have executed over 100 drone and missile attacks, targeting 10 merchant vessels involving more than 35 different countries.
Ongoing Israel-Hamas War has led to an increase in drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthis. The Houthis, expressing support for Hamas, have explicitly stated their intention to continue targeting commercial shipping associated with Israel.
A commander from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, warned that the Mediterranean Sea could be closed if the United States and its allies persist in what he referred to as "crimes" in Gaza.
The attacks have led major firms to reroute their cargo vessels around the southern tip of Africa, despite the increased fuel costs associated with longer voyages.
Photo: X
(Inputs from Agencies)
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