New Delhi: India has strongly condemned what it described as an unprovoked attack on the Indian flagged vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya, which sank in the Red Sea after being struck by an explosives laden boat off Yemen’s western coast. The incident marks the first known attack on an Indian ship operating in the strategically important Red Sea shipping corridor.
The vessel was reportedly carrying Saudi oil when it was attacked about 13 nautical miles off Hodeidah in the Bab al Mandab Strait. Following the strike, the ship capsized and sank. All 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni citizen, were rescued in a coordinated operation by the Yemeni Navy and Coast Guard. No casualties were reported.
The Indian government reaffirmed that the safety and security of Indian citizens remain its highest priority. Authorities have directed maritime agencies to coordinate closely with all relevant organisations to ensure the welfare of the rescued crew and strengthen protection measures for Indian seafarers operating in the region.
The Ministry of External Affairs also condemned the attack and confirmed that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh is closely monitoring the situation while coordinating with Yemeni authorities to facilitate the crew’s safety and necessary assistance. The government also expressed gratitude to the Yemeni authorities for carrying out the successful rescue operation.
The attack has once again highlighted growing security risks for commercial vessels navigating the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. India voiced serious concern over the continued targeting of merchant ships and stressed that such incidents threaten global trade and maritime stability.
The government called for an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping and urged the restoration of safe, free, and uninterrupted navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law. No organisation had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of the announcement.
