India's shipping minister announced Tuesday evening that the Indian-flagged vessel MSV Faez Noor Awliya was struck by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing it to capsize and sink. All 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals, were rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and transferred to Mokha Port, according to the minister. The origin of the projectile has not been identified.
In the latest development, India's Shipping Minister has identified the stricken vessel as the Indian-flagged MSV Faez Noor Awliya and confirmed that all 14 crew members — 13 Indian nationals and one other — were rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and transferred to Mokha Port. The minister had earlier confirmed at 17:42 Jerusalem that the vessel was struck by a projectile and sank; The Zioneer reported that confirmation at 20:03. The current update adds the vessel's identity and full rescue details.
The thread of reporting on this incident began at 17:42 Jerusalem with an unverified report from an Arabic-language source stating that an Indian merchant vessel had been struck by an explosive boat and sank approximately 13 nautical miles off Al-Hudaydah. Within the same hour, a subsequent report identified the vessel as FAIZE NOORE OLIYA and described the attack as involving an unmanned surface vessel (USV). A Houthi-affiliated source then confirmed the sinking and the rescue of all 14 crew. India's Shipping Minister subsequently confirmed the rescue of 14 crew members, and later confirmed that the vessel was struck by a missile. The minister's latest statement provides the vessel's correct name and rescue details.
The sinking is the latest in a series of attacks on commercial shipping off Yemen and in the wider region. As The Zioneer reported on July 14, Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE tankers off Oman, killing one crew member. On June 14, the US Navy rescued 14 Indian sailors from a sinking dhow off Oman. The region has seen heightened maritime insecurity, with attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz reported by The Zioneer on June 27 and June 25.
The origin of the projectile remains unconfirmed, and no group has claimed responsibility. The precise attack method also remains unclear, with conflicting reports mentioning an explosive boat, a USV, or a missile. The Zioneer has not independently verified the details of the attack.
9 developments
- StrongHouthis attack vessel in Bab el-Mandeb strait
- DevelopingUKMTO reports cargo vessel attacked southwest of Yemen's Al Hudaydah port
- StrongUKMTO reports security incident off Yemen's Hodeidah port; merchant vessel attacked by armed individuals
- DevelopingUS Navy rescues 14 Indian sailors from sinking dhow off Oman coast
Source and signal
- Open-source intake