Under the title "Shadow War: Israel Investigates Tehran's Involvement in Attacking Its Ship," Al-Arabiya reported that after an Israeli ship was targeted in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, Israeli defense officials pointed fingers at Tehran. Military officials stated, as reported by Channel 12, that they are trying to confirm whether Iranian forces attacked a cargo ship owned by Israelis in the Indian Ocean.
Moreover, sources within the Israeli military indicated that the ship's crew was unharmed and that no significant damage occurred to the vessel, according to a report by Reuters on Sunday. The Israeli network had previously reported that the ship, Tindal, is owned by Zodiac Maritime. The company's website clarified that it was sailing under the Liberian flag. A source familiar with the Zodiac Maritime fleet noted that the company sold the ship months ago.
Additionally, an Israeli security official suggested that the ship may have been attacked by an Iranian drone, according to the New York Times.
It is worth mentioning that Israel and Iran have openly exchanged accusations over the past few months regarding the targeting of commercial ships in deep seas, marking a new chapter in the shadow wars between the two sides, following attacks on nuclear sites within Iran or military sites in Syria.
Western reports previously revealed that Israel targeted at least 12 Iranian oil tankers or vessels carrying Iranian oil headed for Syria over the past two and a half years. The Wall Street Journal also reported, based on statements from American and regional officials, that since late 2019, Israel has employed weapons, including naval mines, to strike Iranian ships or those carrying Iranian shipments en route to Syria, in attacks carried out in the Red Sea and other areas in the region.
