Pentagon says Iran drone struck chemical tanker near India, expanding Red Sea risks amid Israel-Gaza war
- Attack comes amid flurry of drone and missile strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on a vital Red Sea shipping lane since start of the Israel-Gaza war
- This is the first time the Pentagon openly accused Iran of directly targeting ships since start of Israel’s war on militant group Hamas, which is backed by Iran
A Japanese-owned chemical tanker struck on Saturday off the coast of India was targeted by a drone “fired from Iran,” the Pentagon said, a sign of expanding risks to commercial shipping beyond the Red Sea.
The attack came amid a flurry of drone and missile strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on a vital Red Sea shipping lane since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7, with the group claiming to act in solidarity with Gaza.
Saturday’s attack took place around 10am local time and caused no casualties aboard the vessel, it said, adding that a fire was extinguished.
The US military “remains in communication with the vessel as it continues toward a destination in India,” it added.
The drone strike occurred 370 kilometres (200 nautical miles) off the coast of India, it said, adding that no US Navy vessels were in the vicinity.