Iranian drone attack hit chemical tanker in Indian Ocean: Pentagon

Indian ocean drone attack: The Iranian drone attack on Saturday struck a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean, says the Pentagon.

"The motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker, was struck at approximately 10 am local time (6 am GMT) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran," a Pentagon spokesperson addressed. 

The incident comes as the latest illustration of the growing regional tensions after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The Pentagon said this was the "seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021".

In an official statement, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) stated that an India-bound merchant vessel, MV Chem Pluto, with 20 Indian and one Vietnamese crew member on Saturday caught fire after it was attacked by a suspected drone. 

The merchant vessel reportedly commenced its voyage from the UAE on December 19 and was bound for New Mangalore port with an arrival date of December 25.

The Indian Coast Guard Maritime Coordination Centre (MRCC), also established real-time communication with the vessel's agent, ascertained no loss of life and assured all assistance.

It was also learned that the vessel fire had been doused by the crew. To augment the vessel's safety, MRCC Mumbai has activated ISN and immediately diverted other merchant vessels in the vicinity of Chem Pluto for assistance.

The official statement further reads, “The Indian Coast Guard also pressed Offshore Patrol vessel Vikram and Coast Guard Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft into action for rendering assistance to Chem Pluto. The Coast Guard Dornier aircraft has sanitised the area and established communication with Chem Pluto.”