Projectile sinks Indian-flagged ship off Yemen coast
All 14 people on board the Indian-flagged vessel were safely rescued, India's ministry of external affairs says.
An Indian-flagged vessel, the MSV Faize Noore Oliya, sank off the coast of Yemen after being struck by a projectile. All 14 individuals aboard, including 13 Indian nationals, were successfully rescued, according to India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Sonowal denounced the "unprovoked attack" and pledged measures to enhance the safety of seafarers in the area. The identity of those responsible for striking the ship remains unknown.
This incident marks the latest in a series of assaults on vessels in the Red Sea, an alternative shipping route that some tankers have been utilizing since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in February.
India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement expressing "deep worry" over the attacks on commercial shipping in the region. The ministry emphasized the need for an end to such targeting and the swift restoration of free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways, in accordance with international law.
Shipping routes in the region have been significantly disrupted since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Since then, Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping channel, which has had a substantial impact on global oil prices.
Some Saudi Arabian oil shipments had been rerouted through the Red Sea; however, recent attacks by Yemen's Houthi fighters on Saudi tankers have further escalated risks in the area. Yemen's transportation ministry, part of the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government, accused the Iran-backed Houthis of carrying out the attack using an explosives-laden boat, as reported by Reuters. The Houthi group has not commented on the incident.
The Houthis declared what they termed a blockade on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports on July 20. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency has documented several attacks on ships in the region over the past week.
Despite these events, oil prices dropped to a three-week low on Tuesday, fueled by optimism from senior US officials regarding a potential agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In June, the US and Iran had agreed to a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at halting military operations, reopening the Strait, and reaching a peace agreement within 60 days. However, three weeks after its signing, US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire "over" following Iranian attacks on ships in the strait and subsequent US retaliatory strikes.
On Tuesday, US officials indicated that talks were progressing, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting a deal to reopen the Strait could be finalized as early as Tuesday or Wednesday. Iran, however, has stated it is not negotiating with the US and has no plans to do so, instead engaging in discussions with Oman.