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| Tanker hit off India coast by drone from Iran, says US | Tanker hit off India coast by drone from Iran, says US |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The strike hit a chemical products tanker, like the one shown here in a file photo | The strike hit a chemical products tanker, like the one shown here in a file photo |
| A chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean was hit by a drone launched from Iran on Saturday, the US military says. | A chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean was hit by a drone launched from Iran on Saturday, the US military says. |
| A fire on board the Chem Pluto was extinguished. There were no casualties. | A fire on board the Chem Pluto was extinguished. There were no casualties. |
| Iran has not commented. Houthi rebels in Yemen - who are backed by Iran and support Hamas in its war with Israel - have recently used drones and rockets to target vessels in the Red Sea. | |
| But this event is the first of its kind so far away from there, according to maritime security firm Ambrey. | But this event is the first of its kind so far away from there, according to maritime security firm Ambrey. |
| The same company also said the vessel was heading from Saudi Arabia to India, and was linked to Israel. The Houthis have claimed to be targeting Israel-linked vessels over the conflict in Gaza. | The same company also said the vessel was heading from Saudi Arabia to India, and was linked to Israel. The Houthis have claimed to be targeting Israel-linked vessels over the conflict in Gaza. |
| The US said the Chem Pluto was hit by "a one-way attack drone fired from Iran". It is believed to be the first time the US has publicly accused Iran of targeting a ship directly. | The US said the Chem Pluto was hit by "a one-way attack drone fired from Iran". It is believed to be the first time the US has publicly accused Iran of targeting a ship directly. |
| It has previously accused Iran of being "deeply involved" in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea - a charge Tehran has denied. | It has previously accused Iran of being "deeply involved" in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea - a charge Tehran has denied. |
| However, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned they could force the closure of waterways other than the Red Sea if "America and its allies continue committing crimes" in Gaza. | However, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned they could force the closure of waterways other than the Red Sea if "America and its allies continue committing crimes" in Gaza. |
| Who are the Houthi rebels attacking Red Sea ships? | Who are the Houthi rebels attacking Red Sea ships? |
| What do Red Sea assaults mean for global trade? | What do Red Sea assaults mean for global trade? |
| The Pentagon statement said the Chem Pluto, "a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker", was struck on Saturday at 10:00 local time (06:00 GMT). The hit caused structural damage. | |
| The incident took place 200 nautical miles (370km) south-west of the city of Veraval in India's Gujarat state, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). | |
| Ambrey said the event fell within an area considered a "heightened threat area" for Iranian drones. | |
| The Indian navy sent an aircraft and warships to offer assistance. The BBC was not able to independently verify the incident. | |
| In a separate development, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that on Saturday "two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. No ships reported being impacted by the ballistic missiles". | In a separate development, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that on Saturday "two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. No ships reported being impacted by the ballistic missiles". |
| It also said the USS Laboon warship patrolling the area "shot down four unmanned aerial drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that were inbound" to the American vessel. | It also said the USS Laboon warship patrolling the area "shot down four unmanned aerial drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that were inbound" to the American vessel. |
| Later that day, a crude oil tanker reported being hit by a Houthi drone in the southern Red Sea, while another tanker saw a near miss. | Later that day, a crude oil tanker reported being hit by a Houthi drone in the southern Red Sea, while another tanker saw a near miss. |
| Many large global shipping groups have suspended operations in the Red Sea due to the increased risk of attacks. | Many large global shipping groups have suspended operations in the Red Sea due to the increased risk of attacks. |
| The UK government has vowed to ensure the route's safety. | |
| Defence Secretary Grant Shapps told the Sunday Times his country was committed to repelling attacks on vessels - and would not allow the Red Sea to become a "no-go area". | |
| Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Cameron described Iran as a "thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world". | |
| He said the Iranian leadership and its proxies needed to be sent an "incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated". | |
| Chris Farrell from Neptune P2P Group, a UK maritime security company, described the nervousness in the region and observed that container ships were proving more likely to re-route than larger vessels."Nobody really knows the situation out there at the moment," he told the BBC World Service's Weekend programme. | |
| "I think that because of the lack of stability, that's creating the uncertainty with the clients and the shipping companies which are putting their assets within that region." | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Israel-Gaza war | Israel-Gaza war |
| Iran | Iran |
| Houthis | Houthis |
| India | India |
| United States | United States |