Indian Navy Warship Deployed In Gulf Of Aden After Yemen's Houthi Rebels Target Commercial Ship

The crew had to abandon the ship. INS Kolkata swiftly arrived, rescuing 21 crew members, including an Indian national, from the life raft using its integral helicopter and boats.

Indian Navy warship, engaged in Maritime Security Operations, promptly responded to a maritime incident in the Gulf of Aden on March 6, according to news agency ANI. A drone or missile struck the Barbados-flagged Bulk Carrier MV True Confidence, approximately 55 nautical miles southwest of Aden, causing a fire on board and critical injuries to some crew members.

The crew had to abandon the ship. INS Kolkata swiftly arrived, rescuing 21 crew members, including an Indian national, from the life raft using its integral helicopter and boats. The ship's medical team provided critical medical aid to the injured crew.

The Associated Press reported at least three crew members were killed in a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. This incident marks a significant escalation in Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping since October, following the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

The US military's Central Command confirmed the commercial ship, 'True Confidence,' sustained substantial damage from an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

READ | Houthi Missile Attack On Ship Off Yemen Kills 3 In Group's First Fatal Assault

Following the missile strike, the crew evacuated the ship, and with the assistance of a US warship and the Indian navy, rescue operations were carried out. The exact number of crew members during the attack remains uncertain.

The attack on the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence heightens tensions along a crucial maritime route connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, disrupting global maritime traffic.

According to Reuters, the Greek operators of 'True Confidence' reported the vessel adrift and engulfed in flames. Information on the status of the 20 crew members and three armed guards, including 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, two Sri Lankans, an Indian, and a Nepali national, is yet to be confirmed.

A Reuters report stated that the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged vessel True Confidence, around 50 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen's port of Aden.

Houthis asserted the strike was "accurate," causing a fire onboard the ship. A CNN report quoted Houthis' statement, mentioning that the targeting operation followed the ship's crew rejecting warning messages from Yemeni naval forces.

While the rebels targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters during the Israel-Hamas war, Wednesday's incident marked the first with casualties among the crew. The vessels targeted included at least one carrying cargo bound for Iran, the main supporter of the Houthis, and an aid ship destined for Houthi-controlled territory.

Despite over a month and a half of US-led airstrikes, Houthi rebels have maintained their capability to carry out significant attacks. These include the recent attack on the Rubymar, a cargo ship transporting fertilizer, which sank after drifting, and the downing of a valuable American drone.

The motive behind the Houthis' targeting of 'True Confidence' remains unclear. However, it's noteworthy that the ship was previously owned by Oaktree Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based fund that finances vessels through installment plans. Oaktree declined to provide further comment on the matter.