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An Israel-affiliated tanker sailing in the Arabian Sea off India’s west coast was struck by a drone, causing a fire, British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and maritime security firm Ambrey said on December 23.
Ambrey said that the fire on the Liberian-flagged chemical products tanker was extinguished without crew casualties in the incident.
This was confirmed by UKMTO which said the incident took place some 200 kilometers southwest of the Indian city of Veraval.
“Some structural damage was also reported and some water was taken onboard. The vessel was Israel-affiliated. She had last called Saudi Arabia and was destined for India at the time,” Ambrey said on its website.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike. Last month, an Israeli-owned cargo ship was targeted in a suspected drone attack by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Indian Ocean, according to United States officials.
The strike also came following a series of drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis (Houthis), who say they are supporting Palestinians under siege by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Recent attacks in the Red Sea forced some of the world’s largest shipping companies to suspend operations there, causing a shipping crisis.
The U.S. launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to “ensure the safety of maritime traffic” in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden on December 18. However, the operation is already facing problems. Spain, Italy and France refused to take part in the operation. Several other allies of Washington declined to send warships.
