Indian vessel sinks after attack in Red Sea, 13 Indian sailors rescued
Aden, Aug 4
An India-flagged cargo vessel sank after being attacked by an explosives-laden boat in the Red Sea off Yemen's western coast.
Yemeni forces rescued 14 crew members; 13 of them are Indian sailors, while one is from Yemen, Xinhua News Agency reported
The government-affiliated National Resistance Forces (NRF) said in a statement that coast guard and naval units carried out a joint operation for the crew of the vessel Faize Noore Oliya after it was attacked about 13 nautical miles south of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah.
The statement did not specify when the attack occurred.
All 14 people aboard were rescued and taken to safety, the statement said, adding that they received medical assistance and no casualties were reported.
The NRF blamed Yemen's Houthi group for the attack, while the Houthis have yet to comment.
Last month, a Saudi company-owned tanker was attacked and caught fire while sailing in the Red Sea, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing an official source at Saudi Arabia's Transport General Authority (TGA).
The source said the attack caused a consequent fire at the ship's bow and all crew members aboard the vessel, Encelia, were safe. Relevant authorities in the Gulf country have taken all necessary measures to secure the vessel and its crew, and protect the marine environment, it said.
According to a United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) advisory, the attack occurred about 70 nautical miles (130 km) southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, in the southern Red Sea.
In a statement aired on July 23, Yemen's Houthi group said it had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, identified as Encelia and Layla, using "ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones," claiming that the vessels had violated its recently announced maritime restrictions.
The group had announced a maritime ban on Saudi-linked vessels earlier, citing what it described as Saudi Arabia's long-running blockade on areas under its control.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is terrifying. My cousin works on a merchant ship and my family is always worried when he's in these waters. We need international cooperation to ensure safe passage for civilian vessels. These are innocent sailors doing their jobs, not military targets. 😔
While I'm glad the Indian sailors were rescued, I can't help but question why our vessels are still operating in such dangerous waters. The Red Sea has been a trouble zone for months now. The shipping companies need to reroute even if it costs more - safety should be the priority.
The Yemeni forces deserve credit for their swift rescue operation. It's heartwarming to see nations helping each other in times of crisis, even amidst regional tensions. 🙏 Let's hope our government takes diplomatic steps to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers in this region.
This Houthi aggression against civilian vessels is absolutely unacceptable. They claim it's about blockades but attacking innocent merchant ships is pure terrorism. India should take a firm stance at the UN and push for a coordinated international response to protect shipping lanes.
Our sailors are the backbone of India's maritime trade and their safety is paramount. I hope the shipping ministry issues clear guidelines and perhaps even provides security support for vessels passing through high-risk zones. Better safe than sorry! 🙏
S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.