International Desk, 24th December: The Pentagon has officially acknowledged that an Iranian drone targeted a chemical tanker, CHEM PLUTO, in the Indian Ocean on Saturday. The Liberian-flagged vessel, owned by Japan and operated by the Netherlands, was about 200 nautical miles off the Indian coast when the attack occurred around 10 am local time on December 23.
This marks the seventh Iranian assault on commercial shipping since 2021, according to Pentagon reports. The MV Chem Pluto, en route to India with 20 Indian and one Vietnamese crew members, caught fire following the attack.
The Indian Coast Guard promptly secured the vessel, averting further escalation. The ship had embarked on its journey from the UAE on December 19, with its destination set for New Mangalore port on December 25.
While the Indian Coast Guard ensured the safety of the crew members and no lives were lost, the incident raises concerns about the security of shipping lanes in the region.
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