Two Israeli tankers targeted by ‘unidentified’ drones off Maldives

Two oil tankers belonging to Israel have reportedly been targeted by “unidentified drones” in the west and northwest of the Indian Ocean’s archipelagic country of Maldives.

Citing an informed official late Friday, the Jordan News said the incident had taken place over the past two days and initial reports indicated that both oil tankers had been seriously damaged by explosions.

The vessels were supposed to sail through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea before reaching their destination, it said.

The paper noted that the Yemeni army had previously issued threats to target Israeli ships and oil tankers in the Red Sea until the end of the war on Gaza.

“Contrary to expectations, the two oil tankers were targeted by unidentified drones at a considerable distance of 2000 km from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. More significantly, both vessels were forced to change their course due to the inflicted damage and the fear of potential further attacks,” it said.

Yemen’s Armed Forces and the popular Ansarallah resistance movement have struck several Israeli-owned and -bound commercial ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with the Gazans. However, they have made it clear that international vessels can safely sail through the strategic waterway.

Yemeni forces have also launched missile and drone attacks on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories and pledged to continue their strikes unless Tel Aviv ends its deadly onslaught.

SS