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A ship owned by a Cypriot company helped extinguish a fire on a vessel carrying humanitarian aid and activists that was reportedly struck by drones in international waters off Malta, a Cypriot rescue official said Friday.
Andreas Charalambides, commander of Cyprus’ Joint Rescue Coordination Center, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the Cypriot-owned ship was already in the area and responded to an SOS call in accordance with maritime protocol.
His comments followed a report by the international NGO Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which said a ship in its fleet was attacked by drones about 17 nautical miles (31.5 kilometers) off Malta. Reuters reported the group’s claim that "Cyprus responded by sending a vessel" after the distress call.
Charalambides clarified that Cyprus did not deploy any official government assets and that the assistance came from a private ship operating in the area.
A video posted by the NGO appeared to show one of its vessels on fire, though it did not identify who might have carried out the alleged drone strike. The group said the attack appeared to target the ship’s generator and that the vessel was at risk of sinking.
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No injuries were reported. The Maltese government later confirmed that the entire crew was safe.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is an activist group campaigning to end Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
