In a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, an Iranian drone struck a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, the Pentagon reported. This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks affecting shipping routes, intensifying the already volatile situation following Israel’s conflict with the Hamas militant group.
The vessel targeted, CHEM PLUTO, is a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker. According to a Pentagon spokesperson who spoke to The Hill, the attack occurred at approximately 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT), about 200 nautical miles off the coast of India. The spokesperson described the incident as a “one-way attack drone fired from Iran,” highlighting the direct involvement of Iranian forces.
This attack is not an isolated event but part of a pattern of aggression. The Pentagon has identified it as the “seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021,” signaling a worrying trend in the region’s maritime security.
Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in this latest incident. However, the attack did result in a fire aboard the tanker, which has since been extinguished. The situation was further complicated by the absence of U.S. Navy vessels in the immediate vicinity, though U.S. Naval Forces Central Command remains in contact with a U.S. vessel heading towards India.
The timing of the attack coincides with a stark warning issued by Iran earlier on Saturday. Iranian authorities threatened that the Mediterranean Sea could be “closed” if the United States and Israel continue their “crimes” in Gaza. Iran, a long-standing supporter of Hamas, has accused the Israeli military and the U.S., a close ally of Israel, of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
The conflict in Gaza has been particularly deadly, with over 20,000 Palestinians reported dead since early October, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. These deaths have occurred in the wake of Israel’s retaliatory campaign against Hamas, which began after an attack by the group on October 7 that left an estimated 1,200 people dead in Israel.
The U.S. has consistently expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. However, this stance has led to an increase in attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in the Middle East, believed to be carried out by Iranian-backed militants. U.S. officials have speculated that Iran’s ultimate goal might be to force a withdrawal of U.S. military presence from the region.
These developments have raised concerns about the safety of shipping lanes, particularly in light of recent tensions in the Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have attacked several vessels, some of which were Israeli-backed, have claimed responsibility for these attacks. Their stated aim is to deter Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks in Gaza.
The impact of these attacks has been far-reaching, with several shipping companies suspending operations in the Red Sea earlier this month. This has not only disrupted shipping routes but also affected global oil prices.
Amidst these escalating tensions, the U.S. continues to support Israel. However, the Biden administration has recently increased its calls for Israel to take active measures to protect civilian lives while addressing the threat posed by Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007.
This latest incident in the Indian Ocean underscores the growing risks to commercial shipping and highlights the broader geopolitical tensions in the region. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, which remains fluid and potentially volatile.
