Agencies | New Delhi:
An India-flagged cargo vessel sank in the Red Sea off Yemen’s western coast after it was struck by a projectile on Tuesday, prompting a strong condemnation from India. All 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni sailor, were rescued safely by Yemeni forces.
The vessel, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, came under attack about 13 nautical miles south of the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeidah. The impact caused the vessel to overturn and eventually sink, officials said.
The Yemeni National Resistance Force, also known as the Guards of the Republic, said its coast guard and naval units conducted a joint rescue operation, safely evacuating all crew members and providing them with medical assistance before bringing them to the Port of Mokha.
India Condemns Attack
India strongly condemned what it described as an “unprovoked” attack on the civilian cargo vessel.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said the projectile strike caused the vessel to capsize and sink. He added that he had directed the Director General Maritime Administration (DGMA) to coordinate with all concerned agencies to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the region and extend all necessary assistance to the rescued crew.
“India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenseless mechanised sailing vessel. The safety of our people is our supreme priority, and I am relieved to inform that all 14 seafarers, including 13 Indians, have been safely rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and brought to the Port of Mokha,” Sonowal said in a post on X.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh is closely monitoring the situation and is in constant coordination with the Yemeni authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of the rescued crew members.
Call to End Attacks on Commercial Shipping
Expressing concern over the continuing attacks on merchant vessels in the region, India described the incidents as “deeply worrisome” and called for the immediate restoration of safe and unhindered maritime navigation.
“The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome. The targeting of commercial shipping must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest,” the MEA said.
Rising Threat to Maritime Security
The latest attack comes amid escalating security concerns in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, where commercial shipping has increasingly come under missile and drone attacks linked to the ongoing regional conflict.
Last month, the Iran-backed Houthi movement announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, significantly raising tensions in the region and increasing concerns over the security of global energy supplies and international trade routes.
The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, including the coastline along the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, occupy one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The attack has once again highlighted the growing risks faced by commercial vessels and Indian seafarers operating in conflict-affected waters, with New Delhi continuing to press for the protection of international shipping lanes and adherence to international maritime law.
