NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s navy will deploy guided missile destroyer ships within the Arabian Sea after an Israel-affiliated service provider vessel was struck off the Indian coast over the weekend, in an effort to “keep a deterrent presence,” it mentioned late on Monday.
The Indian navy was investigating the character of the assault on the vessel, MV Chem Pluto, which docked in Mumbai on Monday, and preliminary stories pointed to a drone assault, the assertion mentioned.
“Additional forensic and technical evaluation will likely be required to ascertain the vector of assault, together with kind and quantity of explosive used,” the assertion added.
A spokesperson for Iran’s overseas ministry on Monday known as a U.S. declare that Iran had attacked the ship close to India “baseless”.
The Pentagon mentioned on Saturday {that a} drone launched from Iran struck the MV Chem Pluto within the Indian Ocean. The strike got here as a U.S.-led process drive is attempting to counter comparable challenges within the Pink Sea.
“Contemplating the current spate of assaults within the Arabian Sea, Indian Navy has deployed Guided Missile Destroyers, INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata …in numerous areas to keep up a deterrent presence,” the navy assertion mentioned.
The navy mentioned a joint investigation into the assault was being carried out by numerous businesses after its explosive ordnance workforce accomplished its evaluation.
The vessel’s crew included 21 Indians and one Vietnamese citizen.
(Reporting by Krishn Kaushik; Writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Enhancing by Jamie Freed)