India condemns attack on Indian-flagged vessel in Red Sea; all 13 crew members rescued

New Delhi: India on Tuesday condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged commercial vessel in the Red Sea that led to its sinking off the Yemeni coast, saying all 13 Indian crew members had been rescued and were safe. Reacting to the attack, in a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said MSV Faize Noore Oliya came under attack before sinking in the Red Sea off Yemen.

It did not identify the perpetrators or provide details of the circumstances surrounding the incident. The ministry said India’s embassy in Riyadh was closely monitoring the situation and was coordinating with the Yemeni authorities to ensure the safety and security of the rescued crew.

“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,” the MEA said.

It also thanked the Yemeni authorities for their assistance in the rescue operation.

The attack comes against the backdrop of a prolonged security crisis in the Red Sea, where commercial shipping has repeatedly come under attack since late 2023. The strategic waterway, which connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, carries a significant share of global trade, including energy supplies and cargo bound for Europe and Asia.

Although attacks in the region have largely been linked to Yemen’s Houthi movement, the Indian government did not attribute responsibility for Tuesday’s incident.

Expressing concern over the broader security situation, New Delhi said repeated attacks on merchant shipping posed a serious threat to international commerce and maritime stability.

“The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome,” the ministry said. India called for an immediate end to attacks on civilian merchant vessels and urged that freedom of navigation through the region’s international waterways be restored in accordance with international law.

The latest incident is expected to reinforce India’s longstanding position that commercial shipping lanes must remain secure and open. The country has maintained a sustained naval presence in the wider Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to safeguard merchant vessels and respond to maritime security incidents affecting Indian interests.