In a significant escalation of regional tensions, a drone strike originating from Iran targeted a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean early Saturday, marking the first such attack on a commercial vessel beyond the Red Sea in recent times. The Pentagon reported that the Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated vessel was hit approximately 200 nautical miles off the Indian coast by an Iranian one-way attack drone around 6 a.m. GMT.
This incident follows a series of attacks in the Red Sea, primarily involving commercial ships, and comes amidst heightened hostilities in the region. Notably, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, supported by Iran and engaged in conflict against a Saudi-led coalition, have been targeting ships with links to Israel in retaliation for the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, while denying Iran’s involvement in the drone attack and previous assaults in the Red Sea, emphasized that Iran does not support proxy groups in the region. This statement was made at the Tehran International Conference on Palestine.
The recent surge in maritime hostilities has prompted significant rerouting of global trade, leading to potential delays and price increases. Key commodities, including oil, natural gas, and consumer goods, typically traverse this critical maritime corridor en route to the Suez Canal, which facilitates about 12% of global trade.
The Houthi rebels’ intensified targeting of maritime vessels, including the use of drones and anti-ship missiles, has sparked international concerns. In a recent development, the United States, along with other nations, announced a coalition effort to safeguard ships transiting the Red Sea. However, Amirabdollahian dismissed the need for such a coalition, attributing regional insecurity to U.S. support for Israel and suggesting that ceasing this support would lead to a more stable and secure region for energy transfer.
Read More: