Houthi Drone Attacks Intensify in Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Targeting Commercial Shipping
The US military reported an attack on the MV Saibaba, an Indian-flagged crude oil tanker owned by Gabon, by a Houthi-launched drone in the Red Sea. The incident, which occurred without any reported injuries, was confirmed by the US Central Command on Saturday.
This strike coincided with an attack on the Norwegian-flagged tanker MV Blaamanen, which narrowly escaped a similar drone attack by the Houthi forces. Fortunately, there were no casualties or damage to the vessels.
The US Department of Defense on Saturday also announced a separate incident involving the MV Chem Pluto, a chemical tanker owned by Japan, operated by the Netherlands, and flying a Liberian flag. This vessel was struck by a drone originating from Iranian territory while it was approximately 200 miles off the coast of India. The attack resulted in a minor fire but no injuries to the crew.
These incidents are part of a series of attacks on civilian commercial vessels in the region, attributed mainly to the Houthis, a Yemen-based militant group aligned with Iran. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for most of these attacks, explicitly targeting vessels linked to Israel or Israeli citizens, in response to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Iran’s support for the Houthis, along with other groups like Hamas, Hizbullah, and various militias in Iraq and Syria, reflects its strategy to extend its influence in the Middle East. The Iranian government has been a crucial backer of the Houthis, providing political, financial, and military support in the ongoing Yemen Civil War and conflicts with Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The Pentagon has labeled the attack on the Chem Pluto as the “seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021.” In response to these escalating threats, a US-led naval coalition of over 20 states plans to patrol the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This coalition aims to safeguard crucial shipping lanes and counteract the increasing aggression from Houthi and Iranian forces.
