Malta Holds Emergency Security Meeting After Reported Drone Attack Near Maltese Waters
Malta’s Maritime Security Committee held urgent meetings on Friday following a reported drone attack on a Gaza-bound humanitarian vessel just outside the country’s territorial waters.
The committee includes high-ranking officials from the Home Affairs, Transport, and Foreign Affairs ministries, the Security Service, and the police.
Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri confirmed to Times of Malta that the committee met twice during the day as more details on the incident emerged.
The vessel, Conscience, was part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, and was said to be struck by a drone while 14 nautical miles off Malta.
No injuries were reported, but an AFM patrol boat and a tugboat were sent to assist and a Maltese rescue vessel remains stationed nearby.
Sources told MaltaToday the meeting focused on the next steps in the ongoing investigation.
This follows earlier reports that an Israeli military aircraft was tracked flying over Malta and circling the Hurd’s Bank area, close to where the attack happened, just hours before the incident.