Indian Ship Sinks in Red Sea, All 14 Crew Members Rescued
The attack occurred amid recent escalation of tensions in the region, where Houthis declared a naval embargo against Saudi Arabia.
The attack occurred amid recent escalation of tensions in the region, where Houthis declared a naval embargo against Saudi Arabia.
An Indian-flagged merchant vessel, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, sank on August 4, 2026, in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen after being struck by a projectile. The news was confirmed by India's Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who announced on social media platform X that the vessel was hit near Yemeni waters, leading to it capsizing and sinking.
Sonowal strongly condemned the attack, calling it an "unprovoked attack on a defenseless mechanized sailing vessel." He emphasized that the safety of people is the utmost priority and confirmed with relief that all 14 seafarers, including 13 Indians, were safely rescued. The rescue operation was carried out by the Yemeni Coast Guard, which transferred the survivors to the port of Mokha.
India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the attack on the vessel. "Our embassy in Riyadh is closely monitoring the situation and actively coordinating with Yemeni authorities to ensure the safety of the crew. We thank the Yemeni authorities for their support," the statement said, as reported by Index.hr.
The ministry described the continued attacks on merchant vessels in the region as "deeply concerning" and called for an immediate cessation of such actions. "Attacks on merchant vessels in the region must stop, and free and unimpeded navigation and trade through international waterways in the region, in accordance with international law, must be restored as soon as possible," the ministry stated.
The incident occurs amid heightened tensions in the region. Yemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed militant group, declared a naval embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, 2026. The blockade targets vessels linked to Saudi Arabia passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime passage leading to the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia led an international coalition in 2014 that imposed an air and naval blockade against the Houthis after they seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. Major fighting ended with a ceasefire in 2022.
Maritime traffic data shows that 20 vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait yesterday, including 12 tankers and eight bulk carriers. Meanwhile, in the Red Sea, six Saudi-flagged supertankers recently changed their route in the Gulf of Aden, heading towards southern Africa. On the other hand, two tankers loaded with Saudi oil did pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
