An India-flagged cargo vessel caught fire and sank near Yemen’s Hodeidah coast after being hit by a projectile, with all 14 crew members, including 13 Indians, rescued safely.
Yemen: An India-flagged cargo ship, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, was struck by a projectile in Yemeni waters on August 4, causing a massive fire before the vessel sank near the port city of Hodeidah.
Visuals shared after the strike showed the ship engulfed in flames and thick smoke before it went underwater.
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The vessel sank around 13 nautical miles (24 km) south of Hodeidah, a port city controlled by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The ship was carrying 14 crew members — 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni sailor. Yemen’s Coast Guard and naval units carried out a rescue operation, bringing all crew members safely to the port of Mokha.
No casualties have been reported following the incident.
Houthis blamed for attack
Yemen’s government-affiliated National Resistance Forces blamed Houthi rebels for the attack, although the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility.
Some Yemeni reports alleged that the ship was targeted over claims that it was carrying weapons linked to Israel. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
The attack comes amid continuing tensions in the Red Sea, where commercial vessels have faced repeated threats linked to the wider West Asia conflict.
India condemns attack on commercial shipping
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the attack and expressed concern over continued threats to commercial shipping in the region.
“The targeting of commercial shipping in the region must end,” the MEA said, calling for free and safe navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described the incident as an “unprovoked attack” and said the safety of Indian seafarers remained the government’s “supreme priority”.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh is coordinating with Yemeni authorities and monitoring the safety of the rescued crew.
The Red Sea is a key global trade route connecting Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal. Attacks on commercial vessels in the region have raised concerns over shipping delays, higher insurance costs and risks to international maritime trade.
The latest incident involving an Indian vessel has renewed concerns over the safety of seafarers operating in one of the world’s most strategically important shipping corridors.
Published: 05 Aug 2026, 05:51 pm IST
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