An Israeli-owned ship was targeted in suspected Iranian attack in Indian Ocean, US official tells AP

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A U.S. defense official, speaking with AP, reported that a container ship owned by an Israeli businessman was the target of a suspected Iranian drone attack in the Indian Ocean. This incident occurred amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

On Friday, the CMA CGM Symi, sailing under the Maltese flag, was reportedly hit by a Shahed-136 drone, shaped like a triangle and carrying explosives. The attack took place in international waters, causing damage to the ship but no injuries to the crew. The U.S. is closely observing the situation but did not specify why Iran is believed to be responsible.

As part of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, a ceasefire is in place, allowing for the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, along with the delivery of critical supplies. The ceasefire has seen Palestinian families celebrating the release of minors and women, and Hamas has released 10 Thai hostages, four of whom were previously unlisted as abducted.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel aligned with Hezbollah, initially reported the attack on the Israeli vessel in the Indian Ocean. The report, based on anonymous sources, was later referenced by Iranian media.

CMA CGM, headquartered in Marseille, France, has yet to comment on the incident. However, the ship’s crew had deactivated its Automatic Identification System tracker since leaving Dubai’s Jebel Ali port, a move typically made when a threat is perceived. This practice was also observed earlier when the ship navigated past Yemen, where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels are active.

The vessel is linked to Eastern Pacific Shipping, owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. Attempts to contact Eastern Pacific Shipping in Singapore and the Israeli military for comments were unsuccessful.

In a similar incident in November 2022, the Liberian-flagged tanker Pacific Zircon, also connected to Eastern Pacific, was damaged in a suspected Iranian attack off Oman.

Iran and Israel have been engaged in a covert conflict across the Middle East, with several drone attacks targeting Israeli-linked ships. During the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis captured a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea, and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have targeted American troops, although Iran has not been directly linked to these attacks.

Isabel DeBre, a correspondent for Big Big News in Jerusalem, contributed to this report.

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