MV Sai Baba, a Gabon-flagged, India-bound crude oil tanker with 25 Indian crew members onboard, was hit by a Houthi-launched one-way attack drone in the Southern Red Sea, however no injuries were reported, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday.
This is the second such attack in as many days, after a suspected drone hit another India-bound cargo ship, MT Chem Pluto, in the Arabian Sea.
The strikes on the India-bound ships come as Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have increased attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas War. Such attacks have prompted ships to adjust their routes and take a long detour through the southern tip of Africa, effectively increasing the time taken and costs incurred.
Attacks on Indian Ships in Red Sea
“At approximately 8 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Naval Forces Central Command received reports from two ships in the Southern Red Sea that they were under attack,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) tweeted on X. The USS Laboon responded to distress calls from the attacks, it added.
Although CENTCOM described MV Sai Baba as “a Gabon-owned, Indian-flagged crude oil tanker,” in its tweet, the Indian Navy released a statement on Sunday clarifying that the vessel was in fact Gabon-flagged.
Additionally, on Saturday, two anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen towards international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea. There have been no reports of ships being hit by ballistic missiles.
As part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the USS Laboon was patrolling in the Southern Red Sea on Saturday and shot down four unmanned aerial drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas.
India linked vessel MV Sai Baba comes under Houthi attack in Southern Red sea. This on a day, when MV Chem Pluto came under attack off the coast of India. Reporting: pic.twitter.com/nOxsAqsO2l
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 24, 2023
In another incident, MT Chem Pluto, which was carrying around 20 Indian crew members as well as crude oil, was targeted by a drone more than 200 nautical miles southwest of Gujarat’s Veraval. There were no injuries when the drone hit the ship, and a minor fire that broke out on board was promptly extinguished.
As per the reports, the vessel was transporting crude oil from Saudi Arabia’s Al Jubail port to New Mangalore port.
Red Sea crisis spills into the Indian Ocean. Liberia flagged commercial vessel MV Chem Pluto hit by a missile. Was traveling from Jubail, Saudi Arabia to India's Manglore. https://t.co/6j8eGhDcx2 pic.twitter.com/8VRZoiSYal
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 23, 2023
Indian Navy Monitoring Situation Closely
The Indian Ministry of Defence said that its “Navy’s mission deployed platforms responded swiftly to a maritime incident in Arabian Sea involving a missile/drone attack on MT Chem Pluto.” Additionally, INS Mormugao was sent to examine the situation and assist MT Chem Pluto.
The crew reported that all 22 crew members were safe and that the fire had been extinguished. The Navy provided details of the developing situation to all Indian maritime agencies for rendering necessary assistance.
“CGS Vikram, also present at the scene, was directed to escort the vessel to Mumbai. Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists will be embarking MT Chem Pluto on arrival at Mumbai to sanitise the vessel and undertake further investigation,” the statement read.
“The Indian Navy continues to monitor the situation very closely with all stakeholders and remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region,” the Ministry said.
US-led Maritime Security Initiative
In response to an increase in missile and drone attacks from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, which is increasingly endangering the free flow of commerce in the Red Sea, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin announced the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian on 18 December.
Austin said that the mission will be directed by Combined Task Force 153, which was established in April 2022 to strengthen maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden.
The UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain will join the US in the new mission, according to Austin. Some countries will conduct joint patrols in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while others will provide intelligence support.
India’s Response
Last week, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi discussed India’s stance on recent developments in the Red Sea at a press conference, saying, “we have vested interests and have been supportive of the free movement of commercial shipping. So, that is something that we are interested in.”
Bagchi commented on India’s involvement in the new multinational security initiative Operation Prosperity Guardian, saying, “I would have to get back to you regarding any specific development on that issue, because I am not aware of whether, you know, there has been any specific invitation or we have been asked to join or we have agreed to join.”
The spokesperson added that India has contributed to efforts to secure the safe passage of ships in the Arabian Sea, saying, “we value the free movement of commercial shipping. I am not aware of any conversations with any specific country, certainly [not] Iran or Yemen.”