Attack on Cargo Ship off Gujarat Coast by Indian Drone

On Saturday, a cargo ship off the coast of Gujarat, India, was hit by a drone. The ship, a chemical products tanker flagged by Liberia, was en route from Saudi Arabia to India and reportedly linked to Israel. The attack caused a fire on board, which was extinguished, and fortunately, none of the approximately 20 crew members were injured. This incident follows a series of drone and rocket attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. The Houthi rebels, who control a significant portion of Yemen, have carried out over 100 drone and missile attacks on 10 vessels in their claim to target Israel due to the conflict in Gaza. With the increased risk of attacks, major global shipping groups have suspended operations in the Red Sea. However, it remains unclear who is responsible for the strike near India. The incident, which caused structural damage to the crude oil-carrying MV Chem Pluto, took place about 200 nautical miles southwest of Veraval. According to maritime security firm Ambrey, it occurred within a region considered a "heightened threat area" for Iranian drones, even though it is far from the Red Sea. In response to the situation, the Indian navy dispatched aircraft and warships to provide assistance. Earlier that same day, the United States accused Iran of playing a significant role in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. National security spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated that this aligns with Iran's longstanding support and encouragement of the destabilizing actions of the Houthis in the region. In a subsequent development, a commander from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards warned that if "America and its allies continue committing crimes" in Gaza, Iran would force the closure of other waterways, such as the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar. However, no specific details on how this would be accomplished were provided.