Indian Cargo Ship Sinks After Being Struck by Projectile Off Yemen Coast

An Indian cargo ship has sunk after being struck by a projectile off the coast of Yemen, sparking concerns that the maritime front in the Middle East is expanding.

The MSV Faize Noore Oliya, a vessel identified as the Indian cargo ship, was hit in the Red Sea off Hodeidah, a port controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis. The attack occurred as the Houthi forces declared a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Indian sailors in the region. According to the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, all 14 sailors on board the ship were safely rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and transported to the Port of Mokha.

Of the 14 sailors rescued, 13 were Indian, and their condition is currently unknown. The Indian government has condemned the attack, stating that it was an ‘unprovoked’ attack on a ‘defenseless’ vessel.

India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said in a statement that he had instructed the Director General of the Maritime Administration to coordinate with all relevant agencies to ensure the ‘absolute security of Indian seafarers in the region’ and provide all necessary assistance to the rescued crew.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Yemeni authorities to ensure the safety and security of the crew. The Ministry of External Affairs has also issued a statement, expressing India’s concern over the incident.

While no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, the Yemen government-aligned National Resistance Forces has blamed the Houthis. Maj. Gen. Sadiq Dwaid, spokesperson for the National Resistance Forces, stated that the Houthis’ targeting of the Indian ship is an extension of their ‘terrorist behavior directed against the Yemeni people.’

The Houthis have been involved in a civil war against the internationally recognized Yemeni government and have imposed a blockade on Saudi Arabian ships since July 20. The blockade has prevented Saudi Arabian ships from transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Iran-backed militia accuses Saudi Arabia of laying an ‘unjust and oppressive siege’ against it by supporting the Yemeni government in the civil war. The Houthis have struck at least two Saudi tankers since the declaration of the blockade.

This incident marks the first known strike on a non-Saudi vessel since the Houthis declared their maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia on July 20. The attack has also raised concerns about the safety of shipping in the region, particularly in the wake of Iran’s enforcement of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is on the northeastern side of Saudi Arabia.

Key Points:

• The Indian cargo ship MSV Faize Noore Oliya was struck by a projectile off the coast of Yemen.
• The attack occurred as the Houthi forces declared a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea.
• All 14 sailors on board the ship were safely rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard.
• The Indian government has condemned the attack, stating that it was an ‘unprovoked’ attack on a ‘defenseless’ vessel.
• The Houthis have been blamed for the attack by the Yemen government-aligned National Resistance Forces.