The United States has reported that a drone strike on a vessel near India originated from Iran

A chemical tanker, with Japanese ownership and links to Israel, was struck by a drone off India’s coast on Saturday. The U.S. Pentagon has attributed this drone attack to Iran, marking a significant escalation in threats to global shipping routes beyond the Red Sea.

This incident is the first time the Pentagon has directly accused Iran of attacking ships since Israel began its conflict with Hamas, supported by Tehran.

The drone strike occurred amid increased assaults by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, allied with Iran, on the critical Red Sea shipping corridor since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7. The Houthis claim these attacks support Gaza.

The attack happened at 10 am local time (0600 GMT) on Saturday, causing a fire but no injuries aboard the vessel. The U.S. military is in contact with the ship, which is headed to India.

This incident took place 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) off India’s coast. The Pentagon noted that no U.S. Navy ships were nearby.

The targeted MV Chem Pluto sails under a Liberian flag and is operated by a Dutch company, though owned by a Japanese firm. Maritime security firm Ambrey identified the ship as Israel-affiliated, traveling from Saudi Arabia to India.

The Wall Street Journal reported the Dutch operator’s connection to Israeli shipping magnate Idan Ofer.

Following the attack, the Indian navy dispatched an aircraft and a warship to assist the vessel.

No group has claimed responsibility for this drone strike.

Last month, an Israeli-owned cargo ship, under a Malta flag and managed by an Israeli-affiliated company, was reportedly attacked by a drone, allegedly by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in the Indian Ocean. The attack near the ship caused damage but no injuries.

In related developments, the U.S. warship Laboon intercepted four drones from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday, with no reported injuries or damage. Additionally, drones approached a Norwegian-flagged tanker, MV Blaamanen, and struck an Indian-flagged tanker, MV Saibaba, without causing injuries.

Houthi rebels also launched two anti-ship missiles into the Red Sea, although no ships were hit.

These repeated attacks in the Red Sea have led major shipping companies to reroute around Africa, incurring higher fuel costs due to longer routes.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard official warned of potential closures of other waterways if Israel’s conflict with Hamas continues, specifically mentioning the Mediterranean Sea.