India has strongly condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged merchant vessel that sank in the Red Sea after coming under attack near Yemen. The ship carried 13 Indian nationals. All of them were rescued safely.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the repeated attacks on commercial ships in West Asia “deeply worrisome”. It also urged an immediate end to such attacks.
Ship Sank After Projectile Hit
Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the cargo vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank after a “projectile” struck it near Yemeni waters. The vessel carried 14 crew members. The crew included 13 Indians and one Yemeni citizen.
The Yemeni Navy and Coast Guard launched a joint rescue operation. They rescued everyone on board and took them safely to the port of Mokha in Yemen.
India Calls for Safe Maritime Navigation
MEA expressed serious concern over the growing attacks on commercial vessels in the region. Ministry said these attacks threaten international trade and maritime security. It also stressed the need to restore safe and uninterrupted navigation through international waters.
“The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome. The targeting of commercial shipping in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest,” the statement read.
Red Sea Faces Growing Security Risks
The attack marks another incident in a series of assaults on merchant vessels in the Red Sea. Many ships have started using this route after Iran reportedly blocked the Strait of Hormuz in February. As a result, commercial vessels now face greater security risks in the region.
Indian Seafarers Continue to Pay Heavy Price
The MEA recently informed Parliament that 16 Indians have died so far in the West Asia conflict. Among them were 10 Indian seafarers. The ministry also said that five more Indian seafarers lost their lives in separate attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Yemen Blames Houthi Rebels
Yemen's internationally recognised government condemned the incident a day after the attack. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as a “Houthi terrorist attack” on the Indian-flagged merchant vessel.
The government said an explosives-laden boat targeted the ship off Yemen's western coast. The ministry called the attack a “flagrant violation of international law”. It said the assault posed a “direct threat” to maritime safety, security and the freedom of trade along international waterways. Yemen also said the attack formed part of an ongoing series of “crimes and assaults perpetrated by the Houthi terrorist militia”.
Yemen Reaffirms Support for India
Yemen expressed solidarity with India after the attack. It also promised continued coordination with Indian authorities. “The Ministry reaffirms the solidarity of the Republic of Yemen with the friendly Republic of India and its continued coordination with the relevant Indian authorities, while extending all necessary support and facilitation to the vessel’s crew members,” it added.
#Statement | #Yemen Condemns the Terrorist Attack on the #Indian Commercial Vessel 🇾🇪🇮🇳
— وزارة خارجية الجمهورية اليمنية (@yemen_mofa) August 4, 2026
Aden | August 05, 2026
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Republic of Yemen strongly condemns the Houthi terrorist attack targeting the Indian commercial cargo vessel… pic.twitter.com/degFdUjVAB
India Thanks Yemeni Authorities
MEA thanked the Yemeni authorities for their quick rescue efforts. The successful operation saved all 13 Indian crew members despite the vessel sinking. It also highlighted the close coordination between India and Yemen during the emergency.