A US defense official said on Saturday that a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire was attacked by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean yesterday (Friday), according to the Associated Press.
The attack on CMA CGM Symi comes at a time when global shipping finds itself increasingly targeted in the weeks-long war that threatens to turn into a broader regional conflict, even with a truce to stop fighting and Hamas's exchange of hostages with Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The defense official, who spoke to the Associated Press, said that the Maltese-flagged ship was suspected of being targeted by a Shahed-136 drone carrying a triangle-shaped bomb while it was in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship without injuring any of its crew members.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely,” the official said, but refused to explain why the US military believed Iran was behind the attack.
CMA CGM, a major shipping company based in Marseille, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the ship's crew members were acting as if they believed the ship was facing a threat, according to the agency.
Source: Alsharq Alawsat
Iran news, America's drone
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A ship owned by an Israeli businessman is attacked by suspected Iranian drones