An Indian-flagged commercial ship was attacked and subsequently sank in the Red Sea, south of the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. All crew members, comprising 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni, were rescued by the coast guards, according to a local official in the Yemeni city of Mokha. The incident occurred on Tuesday, and New Delhi has strongly condemned the attack as unprovoked.
The Yemeni government has accused Iran-backed Houthi rebels of orchestrating the attack. This follows the Houthis' declaration of a Red Sea maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month, which has led to several attacks on oil tankers and infrastructure. The blockade aims to pressure Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of crude, amid ongoing conflict in the region.
Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that the vessel, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, was hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters. The Indian foreign ministry has expressed deep concern over the targeting of commercial shipping in the region and has called for an immediate end to such attacks.
The significance of the Red Sea as a shipping lane has increased due to Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic waterway, on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula, has been blocked by Iran following the outbreak of the Middle East war. As a result, the Saudi Red Sea port of Yanbu has played a crucial role in maintaining global shipments by bypassing the Hormuz Strait entirely.
India, which contributes significantly to the global merchant shipping industry, has over 320,000 active seafarers, according to the Indian shipping ministry. The safety of these seafarers is paramount, and the recent attack underscores the risks they face in volatile regions.
