Drone strike on ship off coast Gujarat: US accuses Iran
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Representational.
Washington: The United States claimed that a Japanese chemical tanker ship attacked on Saturday, off coast Gujarat in India, was "fired by Iran". It was part of an expansion of attacks by Houthis beyond the Red Sea, Agence France-Presse reported.
The off-coast India attack happens when Iran-backed Houthis keep assaulting ships on an important shipping line in the Red Sea. Houthis had started attacks on the region after the October attack by Hamas on Israel, claiming that it was in solidarity with Gaza.
Saturday's attack took place around 10 am local time (0600 GMT) and caused no casualties aboard the vessel, it said, adding that a fire was extinguished.
The Saturday attack, a drone strike, happened at 10 am local time but caused no severe harm or casualties. A fire erupted and was safely extinguished. The US military, however, informed that it still remains in contact with the vessel while it is heading towards a docking point in India.
The attack happened 200 nautical miles (370 km) away from the Indian coast, Pentagons said, adding that the US Navy was in the vicinity.
According to AFP, this was the first time ever that the US openly accused Iran of targeting ships.
The attacked ship was under a Liberian flag and was operated by a Dutch entity. But it was owned by a Japanese company, a Pentagon statement suggested.
However, a maritime security firm, Ambrey, said that the tanker was Israel-affiliated and was heading to India from Saudi Arabia. The Wall Street Journal reported that the ship is connected to Israel shipping tycoon Idan Ofer.
Anyway, the Indian Navy informed that it had responded to the ship's distress call. It dispatched an aircraft, which reached the ship and ensured the safety of its crew.