Red Sea attacks: Gabon-flagged MV Saibaba hit by drone, all 25 Indians on board reported safe

Amid simmering maritime tensions in the Red Sea as geopolitical conflict in the Middle East continues to flare up, a Gabon-flagged crude oil tanker, MV Saibaba, came under a drone attack on December 24, reportedly launched by Houthi militants, according to the US military. The Gabon-owned vessel had 25 Indian crew members on board at the time of the incident.

The attack occurred amidst a slew of similar incidents, with the US Central Command reporting the 15th attack by Yemen-backed Houthi militants on commercial shipping since October 17. The MV Saibaba sent out a distress call, prompting a response from the USS LABOON (DDG 58), a US warship in the vicinity.

Contrary to initial reports, the Indian Navy clarified that the attacked vessel was Gabon-flagged and not India-flagged. The confusion arose as the US Central Command initially identified it as an India-flagged ship. The MV Saibaba reported no injuries from the strike, ensuring the safety of all 25 Indian crew members.

This incident comes a day after a drone attack on the chemical tanker, MV Chem Pluto, off the coast of India on December 23. The Pentagon attributed this attack to Iran, marking the first time it openly accused Iran of directly targeting ships since the Israel-Hamas war began. The MV Chem Pluto, flying under a Liberian flag and operated by a Dutch entity, was secured by the Indian Coast Guard after catching fire due to the drone attack.