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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - A container ship owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer came under attack in the Indian Ocean by a suspected Iranian drone, according to an American defense official. The attack on the CMA CGM Symi occurred on Friday, amidst Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Malta-flagged vessel was believed to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped Shahed-136 drone, which was carrying a bomb. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but fortunately not injuring any crew members. The incident took place in international waters, raising concerns about the escalating threats faced by global shipping during the weeks-long conflict.

While the U.S. defense official did not provide specific details about the intelligence that linked Iran to the attack, it is suspected that Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard carried out the assault. These same drones have been previously employed by Russia in its war on Ukraine. In fact, just the day after the attack on the Symi, Ukraine reported the largest drone attack launched by Moscow since the war began.

Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel affiliated with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, reported the incident, citing anonymous sources. CMA CGM, a major shipper based in France, referred inquiries to the Symi's owner, Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is controlled by Idan Ofer.

In a statement issued on behalf of Eastern Pacific, the company confirmed that they were aware of the incident involving one of their container ships. They assured that the vessel was currently sailing as planned, with all crew members reported safe and in good health.

This is not the first time that Eastern Pacific's ships have been targeted. In November 2022, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon, also associated with the company, sustained damage in a suspected Iranian attack off the coast of Oman.

Signs of the threat were evident as the Symi's crew had been taking precautions. The Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracker of the ship was turned off since its departure from Dubai's Jebel Ali port on Tuesday, and it had done the same earlier when passing through the Red Sea near Yemen, which is home to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The attack on the Symi highlights the ongoing shadow war between Iran and Israel in the larger Middle East region, with previous drone attacks targeting Israeli-affiliated vessels. However, it is important to note that Iran has yet to be directly linked to this attack.

As tensions continue to rise in the region, the Eurasia Group, a geopolitical risk firm, believes that "Iran is likely to avoid any action that might escalate the conflict." While there have been small-scale attacks on U.S. forces and Israel by Iran's allies, a major response from the United States is considered unlikely unless these attacks result in casualties or significant damage.

In other related news, Bahrain's national carrier, Gulf Air, has fallen victim to a hack. The airline reported that "some information from its email and client database" may have been accessed. A group called Al-Toufan has claimed responsibility for the hacking, having previously targeted the Bahraini Foreign Ministry and other government websites in protest against the kingdom's stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

The situation remains fluid as global shipping and cybersecurity concerns continue to be impacted by the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Authorities are closely monitoring developments, and the safety of vessels and personnel remains a top priority.