Tanker hit off India coast by drone from Iran, says US | World News

A chemical tanker sailing through the Indian Ocean has been struck by a drone, allegedly launched from Iran, the US military said.

A blaze on the ship Chem Pluto was extinguished after it was struck on Saturday, in the latest instance of ships being attacked.

It comes as Houthi rebels in Yemen have been striking boats passing through the Red Sea.

The United States said the ship – which was heading from Saudi Arabia to India – had been linked to Israel, and was hit by a ‘one way attack drone’ from Iran.

The ship was struck 230 miles southwest of Veraval, India, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The Indian navy sent an aircraft and warships to offer assistance after the attack, which luckily injured no one on board.

Pro-Hamas Yemeni rebels have said they are targeting Israel-linked vessels as the conflict rages in Israel and Gaza.

The US has previously accused Iran of being involved in attacking vessels in the Red Sea, something which Iran has consistently denied.

Earlier this month, a Royal Navy warship had to shoot down a suspected drone attack in the Red Sea.

Grant Shapps said HMS Diamond, an air defence vessel, fired a Sea Viper missile at the drone and ‘destroyed the target’ overnight.

Cargo ships in waters off the Arabian Peninsula have been the subject of recent drone attacks from nearby territory held by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

HMS Diamond was only deployed to the area two weeks ago to help protect the shipping lanes amid growing international concerns over threats to safety.

It comes after the Bahamas-flagged Unity Explorer, owned by a UK company, was among three commercial vessels targeted in an attack by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels earlier this month.

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