NEW DELHI: An Indian vessel sank in the Red Sea after coming under attack near Yemen’s western coast, but all 14 crew members were rescued safely, the Indian minister said on Tuesday.
India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the mechanised sailing vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya was struck by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing it to capsize and sink.
“India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenceless mechanised sailing vessel,” Sonowal said in a post on X.
Indian MSV Faize Noore Oliya has been hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing the vessel to capsize and sink.
India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenseless mechanised sailing vessel. The safety of our people is our supreme priority & I am relieved to…
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) August 4, 2026
He said all 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals, had been rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and taken safely to the port of Mokha.
“The safety of our people is our supreme priority,” the minister said, adding that he had directed India’s Director General of Maritime Administration to coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure the security of Indian seafarers operating in the region and provide all necessary assistance to the rescued crew.
In a separate statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack on the Indian-flagged commercial vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya, which sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on August 4.
The ministry confirmed that all 13 Indian nationals on board had been rescued safely and expressed concern over the continued attacks on commercial shipping in the region.
It also called for the restoration of safe, free and uninterrupted navigation through the Red Sea.
Our statement on attack on an Indian flagged commercial vessel ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/5dNzioU4jv pic.twitter.com/rGgtnl0luu
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 4, 2026
Yemen’s National Resistance Forces also confirmed the incident, saying the vessel came under attack from an explosives-laden boat while sailing in the Red Sea off Yemen’s western coast.
According to the Yemeni forces, the attack occurred about 13 nautical miles south of Al Hudaydah, causing the vessel to sink.
The agency said the Yemeni Navy and Coast Guard carried out a joint rescue operation that saved all 14 crew members, comprising 13 Indian sailors and one Yemeni national.
It said no casualties were reported and the rescued crew were transferred to a safe location, where they received medical assistance.
Neither the Indian government nor the Yemeni agency identified who was responsible for the attack.
Ships operating near Yemen have previously come under attack by the Houthi militia.
The National Resistance Forces are deployed along Yemen’s western coastline near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
