An Indian flagged commercial vessel, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, came under attack in the Red Sea on Tuesday, prompting a rescue operation. All 13 Indian nationals have been evacuated from the ship, which sank later. 

The attack took place about 13 nautical miles south of the port city of Hodeidah, controlled by Houthis. There were 14 crew members on the vessel during the attack, of which 13 were Indian sailors, and one was a Yemeni citizen. Yemeni forces launched a swift rescue mission, evacuating them all. 

In a statement, the Yemeni National Resistance Force, also known as the Guards of the Republic, said that the rescue operation was jointly carried out by the coast guard and naval units of the country.

MEA condemns attack, calls repeated incident worrisome

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned the attack and stated that the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia is coordinating with Yemeni authorities. 

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In a statement, MEA said, "We condemn the attack on the Indian flagged commercial vessel, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, that sank in the Red Sea, off the coast of Yemen on August 4, 2026. All 13 Indian nationals have been rescued. Our Embassy in Riyadh is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Yemeni authorities for the safety and security of the crew. We thank the Yemeni authorities for their support."

Calling the continued attack on vessels in the Red Sea worrisome, the MEA stated, "The targeting of commercial shipping in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest."

Sarbananda Sonowal says vessel hit by projectile

Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said that Faize Noorie Oliya was hit by a projectile, causing the vessel to capsize and sink.

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In a post on X, he said, "India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenceless mechanised sailing vessel. The safety of our people is our supreme priority & 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 added that he has instructed the Director General Maritime Administration (DGMA) to coordinate with all agencies to take immediate steps to ensure Indian seafarers' security in the region.