Indian Cargo Ship Sinks After Rocket Attack Off Yemen, All 14 Crew Members Rescued, Says Centre

Maritime Attack Raises Red Sea Concerns

IIE DIGITAL: Amid continuing tensions in West Asia following the United States Iran conflict, an Indian cargo vessel came under a rocket attack off the coast of Yemen, resulting in the ship sinking after sustaining severe damage. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed on Tuesday that all 14 crew members on board were safely rescued.

The vessel, MSV Faize Noor E Oliya, was struck by rockets while operating near the Yemeni coast. Despite the extensive damage that eventually caused the ship to sink, Yemen's Coast Guard successfully rescued every crew member. According to Sonowal, 13 of the 14 rescued sailors are Indian nationals.

Without naming any military force or armed group responsible for the strike, the minister strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on an unarmed commercial vessel.

"An unarmed cargo ship has been attacked. Such acts of violence are completely unacceptable. The safety and security of human lives remain our highest priority," Sonowal said.

The incident comes as maritime security in the region continues to deteriorate. On the same day, another merchant vessel near the Strait of Hormuz was reportedly hit by a missile, forcing its crew to abandon the ship. Media reports claimed that one sailor from that vessel remains missing.

Although the Indian government has not officially identified the attackers behind the strike on the Indian vessel, several international media reports have attributed the attack to Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Last month, Reuters reported that Iran had instructed the Tehran backed Houthi movement to intensify efforts to disrupt oil and gas shipping in the Red Sea amid escalating regional hostilities. According to the report, the Houthis subsequently deployed missiles and drones in mountainous areas overlooking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, enabling them to target vessels transiting the strategically important Bab el Mandeb Strait.

The latest attack highlights the growing risks facing commercial shipping routes across the Middle East as regional conflicts continue to threaten one of the world's busiest maritime trade corridors. India has remained on high alert, closely monitoring the safety of Indian seafarers and merchant vessels operating in the Gulf and Red Sea region.