Middle East: India says commercial ship sunk off Yemen
08/04/2026 August 4, 2026 India reports 'defenseless' ship struck and sunk off Yemen An Indian vessel has been struck near Yemeni waters, India Shipping Minister
08/04/2026 August 4, 2026 India reports 'defenseless' ship struck and sunk off Yemen An Indian vessel has been struck near Yemeni waters, India Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday. "Indian MSV Faize Noore Oliya has been hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing the vessel to capsize and sink," Sonowal said, without attributing responsibility.
"India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenseless mechanized sailing vessel. The safety of our people is our supreme priority and I am relieved to inform that ALL 14 seafarers (including 13 Indians) have been safely rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and brought to the Port of Mokha," he wrote.
Sonowal said he had instructed the country's Director General Maritime Admnistration to take "immediate steps" and "ensure the absolute security of Indian seafarers in the region." India's Foreign Ministry also condemned the incident in a statement, and said its Embassy in Riyadh was "closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with Yemeni
authorities." Concerns over shipping off Yemen's coast — approaching the western coast of Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea, rather than the Persian Gulf — has come into increased focus in recent weeks since the Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen declared a "blockade" of Saudi Arabia and told commercial ships to avoid the area.
The BriefWire