Iran Responsible For Drone Attack On Israel-Linked Vessel Off Gujarat Coast: US Report

A drone attack on an Israel-affiliated merchant vessel off the coast of Gujarat has been blamed on Iran by the United States. The attack, which took place on Saturday, caused a brief fire on board the ship but resulted in no casualties.

"The motor vessel Chem Pluto, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker was struck at approximately 10 am (local time) on Saturday 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 Reuters.

On Saturday, December 23, 2023, the MV Chem Pluto, a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker carrying crude oil and 20 Indian crew members, was struck by a drone approximately 200 nautical miles southwest of Gujarat's Veraval. The drone, believed to be of Iranian origin, caused a brief fire on board but fortunately resulted in no casualties.

The United States quickly blamed Iran for the attack, calling it the "seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021."

This accusation comes against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with Iran-backed Houthi rebels stepping up attacks on ships in the Red Sea in support of the Palestinian cause. Both Iran and the Houthis have publicly condemned Israel's military actions in Gaza, and the Houthis have threatened to continue attacks until Israel stops its counteroffensive.

It is learnt that the vessel, sailing under a Liberian flag, was carrying crude oil from Al Jubail port in Saudi Arabia to New Mangalore port, news agency PTI reported.

The Indian Navy deployed a frontline warship to aid the merchant vessel. The Indian Coast Guard reported that the ship had commenced its journey toward Mumbai after conducting assessments and fixing its power systems.

According to the Coast Guard, their Dornier aircraft secured the area and established contact with the Chem Pluto. After assessing damages and addressing power system issues, the vessel set course for Mumbai.

Due to steering problems, the ship is expected to enter Mumbai and request escort support. The Indian Coast Guard Ship Vikram will accompany the vessel during its transit, with close monitoring by the Indian Coast Guard Operations Centre.