A Gabon-flagged crude oil tanker, the M/V Saibaba, en route to India, fell victim to a drone attack launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, according to the US military. The incident, transpiring around 10:30 pm (IST) the previous day, saw the tanker sustain damage, prompting the crew to issue a distress call to a nearby US ship. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the Indian crew aboard.

Coincidentally, a separate attack occurred off the Indian coast on another tanker, with the US attributing responsibility to Iran. Two vessels navigating the Southern Red Sea reported being under Houthi drone attacks, with the M/V Blaamanen, a Norwegian-owned chemical tanker, narrowly avoiding impact. The M/V Saibaba, however, confirmed it was struck by a one-way attack drone, prompting the USS Laboon to respond to the distress calls.

This incident follows a string of drone-related encounters, with the US destroyer having previously intercepted four drones originating from Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen. The Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, have targeted ships in the Red Sea, asserting their actions as a response to perceived Israeli affiliations of the vessels and expressing solidarity with Gaza. The geopolitical tensions in the region continue to escalate amid these maritime security challenges.

A Gabon-flagged crude oil tanker, the M/V Saibaba, en route to India, fell victim to a drone attack launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, according to the US military. The incident, transpiring around 10:30 pm (IST) the previous day, saw the tanker sustain damage, prompting the crew to issue a distress call to a nearby US ship. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the Indian crew aboard.

Coincidentally, a separate attack occurred off the Indian coast on another tanker, with the US attributing responsibility to Iran. Two vessels navigating the Southern Red Sea reported being under Houthi drone attacks, with the M/V Blaamanen, a Norwegian-owned chemical tanker, narrowly avoiding impact. The M/V Saibaba, however, confirmed it was struck by a one-way attack drone, prompting the USS Laboon to respond to the distress calls.

This incident follows a string of drone-related encounters, with the US destroyer having previously intercepted four drones originating from Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen. The Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, have targeted ships in the Red Sea, asserting their actions as a response to perceived Israeli affiliations of the vessels and expressing solidarity with Gaza. The geopolitical tensions in the region continue to escalate amid these maritime security challenges.