In a recent incident reported by ANI, a merchant ship in the Arabian Sea was targeted by a drone strike, resulting in a significant explosion and fire. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported among the crew, which comprised 20 Indians. The Indian Coast Guard swiftly responded, dispatching the ICGS Vikram towards the affected vessel, which was carrying crude oil and had set sail from a port in Saudi Arabia.
Notably, there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the drone strike. This incident follows a similar event last month, where an Israeli-owned cargo ship was suspected to be hit by a drone in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, managed by an Israeli-affiliated company, reportedly suffered damage when an unmanned aerial vehicle exploded in close proximity.
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The geopolitical landscape surrounding these incidents is complex, with tensions rising in the region. While no specific group has claimed responsibility for the recent drone strike on the merchant ship, the previous incident involving the Israeli-owned cargo ship was attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by a U.S. official.
Furthermore, drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthis have seen an increase, particularly in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war. The Houthis have expressed support for Hamas, leading them to target commercial shipping linked to Israel. This has forced shippers to alter their routes, opting for longer journeys around the southern tip of Africa to avoid the heightened risk in the Red Sea.
The situation in the Arabian Sea raises concerns about the safety of maritime trade routes and the potential implications for regional stability. As investigations unfold, the international community will be closely monitoring developments to understand the motives behind these attacks and their broader impact on the delicate geopolitical balance in the region.
