Israeli-Linked Vessel Targeted in Possible Iranian Assault in Indian Ocean

An Israeli-owned container ship was reportedly targeted by an Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, according to a U.S. defense official on Saturday.

The CMA CGM Symi, owned by an Israeli billionaire, was attacked on Friday. This incident occurs as shipping worldwide is increasingly becoming a target in the prolonged conflict, which risks escalating into a broader regional dispute. Despite a ceasefire that has stopped the fighting and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, tensions remain high.

The American official, who wished to remain anonymous while discussing sensitive intelligence, indicated that the Malta-flagged ship was likely hit by a Shahed-136 drone, known for its triangular shape and bomb-carrying capability. The attack occurred in international waters and resulted in damage to the vessel, though no crew members were injured.

The official stated that the U.S. military is closely monitoring the situation but did not provide further details on the intelligence suggesting Iran’s involvement in the attack.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel aligned with Hezbollah, a Lebanese group backed by Iran, also reported the attack on the Israeli ship in the Indian Ocean, citing unnamed sources. This report was later echoed by Iranian media.

CMA CGM, the Marseille-based shipping giant, has not commented on the incident. However, the ship’s crew seemed to anticipate a threat, having turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracker since leaving Dubai’s Jebel Ali port, as analyzed by MarineTraffic.com and reported by the AP. Disabling AIS, typically kept active for safety, can indicate a perceived threat. The ship had similarly turned off its AIS in the Red Sea, near Yemen, where Iranian-supported Houthi rebels are active.

According to the private intelligence firm Ambrey, the attack appears targeted due to the ship’s Israeli ties through Eastern Pacific Shipping. The firm noted that the vessel had disabled its AIS transmissions days before the incident, suggesting that this alone does not prevent an attack.

Eastern Pacific Shipping, based in Singapore and controlled by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, owns the Symi. Attempts to contact the company in Singapore and via email went unanswered, and the Israeli military directed queries to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, which has not responded.

In a similar incident in November 2022, the Pacific Zircon, another vessel linked to Eastern Pacific, was damaged in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.

Iran’s U.N. mission did not respond to requests for comment. However, this event is part of a longstanding covert conflict between Iran and Israel in the Middle East, with several drone attacks targeting Israeli-linked ships in the region.

During the recent Israel-Hamas war, which escalated following an Oct. 7 attack by the militants, the Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen. Additionally, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have launched attacks on American troops in both Iraq and Syria during the conflict, though Iran has not been directly linked to any specific attack.