A US Department of Defense official reported that the chemical tanker “CHEM PLUTO” was struck by an Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean. The Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated tanker was attacked approximately 200 nautical miles from the Indian coast.
The incident, which occurred at around 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time), involved a one-way attack drone launched from Iran. This type of drone is designed to hit its target and not return.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and a fire on the tanker was quickly extinguished. The US Navy confirmed that none of its vessels were near the site of the incident, but Naval Forces Central Command is in communication with the affected vessel.
Aftermath and Regional Context
The Indian Coast Guard disclosed that the “CHEM PLUTO” has a crew of 21 members and is currently en route to Mumbai. This marks the first instance of the Pentagon openly accusing Iran of targeting ships since the onset of Israel’s conflict with Hamas, backed by Tehran.
The attack adds to the tensions in the region, following a series of drone and missile strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, purportedly in solidarity with Gaza. The US military is maintaining communication with the vessel as it heads to India, ensuring the safety and security of the crew and the ship in the aftermath of the drone strike.
