Drone strike hits ‘Israel-affiliated’ ship

A drone strike damaged an ‘Israel-affiliated’ merchant ship off India's coast — in the southwest of Gujarat's Veraval — two maritime agencies said on Saturday.

One of them reported that the vessel was linked to Israel. No casualties have been reported so far.

Indian officials said that Navy's “P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft has established communication with the distressed vessel MV Chem Pluto after taking off from INS Hansa naval air base in Goa”.

“The Indian Navy warship is moving towards the vessel and is expected to reach the merchant ship in the next few hours,” the Indian Navy said.

The United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it “received a report of an attack by Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) on a vessel causing an explosion and fire" on Saturday. The incident happened 200 km (120 miles) southwest of Veraval, India.

The attack by the unmanned aerial vehicle caused a fire aboard the ship.