Israeli cargo ship hit in attack by Iranian kamikaze drone

A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire has reportedly been damaged in an attack in the Indian Ocean by a drone that the US suspects to be Iranian.

An unnamed American defence official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the Malta-flagged CMA CGM Symi was believed to have been targeted by a Shahed-136 drone while sailing in international waters.

The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew.

The apparent attack comes as global shipping routes have emerged as targets in the sprawling war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas.

The Shahed-136 drone is Iranian and has also widely been used across Ukraine by Russian forces.