India sends warships to Arabian Sea after oil tanker attack

In a statement late on December 25, the Indian Ministry of Defense said three stealth guided missile destroyers had been deployed “in various areas of the sea” to “maintain deterrent presence” in the face of “a spate of recent attacks in the Arabian Sea.”

The Indian Ministry of Defense is also using long-range maritime patrol aircraft for control.

Image of an Indian Navy guided missile destroyer. (Photo: EPA)

Earlier, the US said a drone hit the cargo ship MV Chem Pluto in the Indian Ocean. According to the Pentagon, the chemical tanker in the southwestern waters of India was attacked by a "suicide UAV launched from Iran".

The attack comes as a US-led task force seeks to counter threats to shipping in the Red Sea from Iran-aligned Houthi forces.

The Indian Navy said it was investigating the nature of the attack on the MV Chem Puto, which was “safely anchored” in the financial capital Mumbai on 25 December.

India’s defence ministry said initial assessments “point to a drone attack”, but stressed that “further technical and forensic analysis of the attack, including the type and quantity of explosives used, will be required”.

According to the Indian Ministry of Defense, the MV Chem Puto has been “allowed to continue operations” by its own company.

The Houthis expressed solidarity with Hamas after the Israeli military bombarded Gaza by land, sea and air. The Houthis also said they would target any ships with links to Israel in the Red Sea.

Since October, Houthi forces have carried out a series of attacks on more than a dozen cargo ships, forcing many of the world’s largest companies to abandon the route. The attack in the Indian Ocean raises concerns about even greater risks to shipping amid the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict.

Washington has accused Tehran of being “deeply involved” in Houthi activities. However, Iran has insisted it played no role in the attacks.

Kong Anh (Source: Al Jazeera)

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