India Condemns Attack on Flagged Vessel Off Yemen

Aden – India on Tuesday condemned the attack on an Indian‑flagged vessel off Yemen’s coast, after it was struck by a projectile and sank, in the latest incident underscoring persistent threats to maritime traffic in the region.

Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya “was hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters,” without identifying the perpetrators. “India strongly condemns this unjustified attack on a defenseless sailing vessel,” he wrote, adding: “The safety of our citizens is our highest priority, and I am pleased to report that all 14 crew members including 13 Indians were safely rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and transferred to Mokha port.”

India’s Ministry of External Affairs also described the continuing assaults on shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb as “deeply concerning,” urging an end to attacks on commercial vessels.

According to Reuters, Yemen’s Transport Ministry accused the Iran‑backed Houthi movement of carrying out the strike using an explosive‑laden boat. The group has not issued a comment. Last month, the Houthis threatened to disrupt navigation through the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, expanding a conflict that has already disrupted oil supplies via the Strait of Hormuz.

India is one of the world’s largest suppliers of commercial seafarers, with more than 300,000 Indians working aboard ships globally. Many serve on vessels operating in the volatile Red Sea corridor, leaving them particularly exposed to risks as regional tensions escalate. Several Indian sailors have been killed in previous maritime incidents.