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| AFP via Getty Images |
On a recent Saturday, a drone launched from Iran executed a strike on a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean, as reported by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The target, the motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker, was hit at approximately 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT), located 200 nautical miles off the coast of India. The attack was carried out by a one-way drone dispatched from Iran, according to a spokesperson from the Pentagon who spoke to Reuters.
This incident not only underscores the increasing tensions in the region but also introduces new risks to shipping lanes, following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
The Iranian government and its allied militant forces in Yemen have openly criticized the Israeli military operation in Gaza. The conflict has resulted in a significant number of casualties among Palestinian citizens, according to aid monitors.
The Pentagon's statement revealed that this marked the "seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021." Fortunately, there were no casualties from this particular attack, and a brief fire aboard the tanker was promptly extinguished.
Notably, the incident occurred merely 200 nautical miles from the coast of India. As of now, there has been no immediate response from the Iranian delegation at the United Nations when approached for comment.