According to an unnamed US defense officer who spoke to AP, drone attacks target Israeli ships in the Indian Ocean.
On November 25, what Washington described as an Iranian drone attack targeted an Israeli-owned ship that was cruising the Indian Ocean.
According to an unnamed US defense officer who spoke to AP, a triangle-shaped drone carrying explosives—possibly an Iranian Shahed-136—hit a ship flying the flag of Malta, causing explosion damage but no injuries.
The person stated, “We continue to monitor the situation closely,” but she did not specify what intelligence was utilized to conclude that Iran was responsible for the strike.
Recently renamed Mayet, the CMA CGM SYMI ship, “is currently sailing as planned.” The Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) company, situated in Singapore and owned by Israeli millionaire Idan Ofer, reported that all of the crew members were safe and well. The company had previously hired the vessel.
Similar attacks are said to have occurred to EPS ships, according to Reuters.
The Ansarallah rebel movement’s affiliate, Yemen’s Armed Forces, made vague allusions to their participation in the operation.
General Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, wrote the word “ZIM” on X on November 25.
The firm that is purportedly the owner of the targeted ship is Integrated Shipping Services Limited, also referred to as ZIM in the post.
ZIM is a company that ships Israeli goods internationally. Its main center employs around 4,200 people, and its headquarters are located in Haifa.
ZIM is “contracted with the forces of Saudi Arabia and the [Saudi-led] coalition… to transport weapons and ammunition to Yemen,” according to a Yemeni report.
The article also states that “the last of these shipments arrived at Hadhramaut in February 2022.”
A week has passed since Yemeni navy troops took control of the Israeli-owned Galaxy Leader ship in the Red Sea and imprisoned its crew.
The military of Yemen issued explicit threats that it would target any Israeli-affiliated vessels in the Red Sea in support of the Gaza resistance, which led to the seizure.
Israel agreed to a 4-day ceasefire with Hamas, according to JNS. The agreement calls for a 5-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 40 children and 13 women.
The Ansarallah resistance movement and the Yemeni army have attacked Israel multiple times with drones and missiles since the Gaza-Israel war began on October 7. They have specifically targeted the port city of Eilat.
On Saturday, the Israeli army declared that it had shot down a drone that was flying towards Eilat above the Red Sea.
There is now a four-day truce in Gaza during which the operation against the Israeli-owned ship is taking place.