Drones Attack India-Bound Ships Amidst Maritime Tensions

High Seas Drama: A gripping turn of events on the high seas, two India-bound ships found themselves under drone attacks, adding a dramatic twist to the already heightened maritime tensions. The vessels, MV Saibaba and MV Chem Pluto, were targeted in the Red Sea and off the coast of Gujarat in the Arabian Sea, revealing the precarious situation that has unfolded in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war.

The first victim, the Gabon-flagged MV Saibaba, a commercial oil tanker with 25 Indian crew members, fell prey to a drone attack orchestrated by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the southern Red Sea. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to statements from the US military and Indian Navy officials. Despite initial confusion about its nationality, the Indian Navy clarified on Sunday that the ship was not Indian-flagged but was en route to India.

Simultaneously, the Israeli-linked merchant ship MV Chem Pluto, carrying around 20 Indian crew members and crude oil, faced a drone strike about 217 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast in Gujarat. Miraculously, the Indian crew members escaped unharmed, and a brief fire onboard was swiftly extinguished.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) provided crucial details, stating that MV Saibaba was targeted by a Houthi drone, while another ship, MV Blaamanen, narrowly avoided a similar fate in the Red Sea. The near miss prompted the US warship Laboon to respond promptly to distress calls from both vessels.

The drone attack on MV Chem Pluto took a more ominous turn as a Pentagon spokesperson revealed that the vessel, sailing under a Liberian flag, was hit by a drone fired from Iran. This marked the seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021, indicating a concerning pattern.

Indian Navy warship INS Mormugao and the Coast Guard ship Vikram rushed to the scene, gathering details of the attack on MV Chem Pluto. Both vessels are expected to reach Mumbai by December 25, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation.

These attacks unfold against the backdrop of Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, intensifying their assaults on ships in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The ripple effects are forcing vessels to alter their routes, taking a lengthy detour through the southern tip of Africa, resulting in increased time and costs.

As maritime tensions continue to escalate, the drone attacks on India-bound ships serve as a stark reminder of the complex geopolitical dynamics playing out on the high seas. The global community watches closely as nations navigate treacherous waters in a bid to secure their maritime interests amidst the fallout of regional conflicts.