India condemns attack on vessel near Yemen

• An Indian-flagged vessel sank after being struck by a projectile near Yemen, with all 14 crew members rescued safely.
• Yemeni authorities blamed the Houthis for the attack, though the group has not commented.

An Indian-flagged vessel has sunk after being struck by a projectile near the Yemeni coast, Indian authorities said Tuesday, in the latest attack highlighting ongoing risks to commercial shipping in the Red Sea region.

India's Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said the MSV Faize Noore Oliya was "hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters." He did not identify those responsible for the attack.

Sonowal condemned what he described as an "unprovoked attack" on the vessel, adding that all 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals, were rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and taken safely to the port of Mokha.

"India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenseless mechanised sailing vessel," Sonowal wrote on X.

India's Ministry of External Affairs also condemned the continued attacks on commercial vessels in the region, calling them "deeply worrisome" and urging an end to the targeting of maritime shipping.

According to Reuters, Yemen's Transportation Ministry accused the Iran-backed Houthi group of carrying out the attack using an explosive-laden boat. The Houthis had not commented on the allegation.

Last month, the group threatened to expand attacks on shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, raising concerns over the security of one of the world's busiest trade routes.

India is one of the world's largest suppliers of merchant marine personnel, with more than 300,000 seafarers serving on commercial vessels worldwide. Many operate in the Red Sea and Gulf regions, where escalating tensions have increased the risks to international shipping and maritime workers.