Iran drone targets tanker, escalates Indian ocean tensions
A drone originating from Iran struck a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean on Saturday morning, raising concerns about heightened regional tensions, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
"The CHEM PLUTO, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Dutch-operated chemical tanker, was hit approximately 200 nautical miles off the coast of India by a one-way attack drone launched from Iran," a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed.
This attack marks a worrying escalation in regional volatility, occurring close on the heels of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and coinciding with public criticism of Israel's Gaza operations voiced by the Iranian government and its Yemeni allies.
"This was the seventh Iranian attack on commercial maritime shipping since 2021," the Pentagon statement declared, highlighting a concerning pattern of targeting vital trade routes.
Though thankfully no casualties resulted from the attack, and a brief fire onboard the tanker was quelled swiftly, the incident underscores growing anxieties regarding the safety of shipping lanes and potential disruptions to maritime commerce in the region.
As of yet, Iranian officials have not issued any comment on the drone strike, leaving a cloud of uncertainty regarding their motives and raising concerns about the possibility of further provocations.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
