INDIAN SHIP SINKS IN RED SEA AFTER ATTACK NEAR YEMEN

An Indian-flagged commercial vessel sank in the Red Sea on Tuesday after being struck by a projectile near Yemeni waters, according to Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. All 14 seafarers aboard the MSV Faize Noore Oliya were rescued safely by the Yemeni coast guard and brought to the port of Mokha. The crew comprised 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni national. India's government condemned what it described as an "unprovoked" attack on the vessel.

Yemen's internationally recognised government blamed the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the attack, according to the official Saba news agency. Last month, the Houthis announced a Red Sea maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of crude oil, and have subsequently claimed responsibility for several attacks on oil tankers and infrastructure in the waterway. The attack on the MSV Faize Noore Oliya occurred south of the port city of Hodeida.

The incident represents a further escalation of maritime tensions in a region of significant strategic importance to global shipping and energy supplies. The Red Sea remains a critical commercial shipping lane, and continued attacks in the area have raised concerns about broader implications for international trade and geopolitical stability in the region.