The Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata successfully rescued 21 crew members, from the bulk carrier MV True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday. The Barbados-flagged Greek-operated cargo vessel was attacked by Houthis yesterday, killing three crew members and forcing the remaining to abandon the ship. The crew, including one Indian national, was rescued using integral helicopters and boats. Following the successful rescue, all crew members and the injured personnel were evacuated to Djibouti.
Yesterday’s attack was the first fatal strike in a series of attacks on vessels by Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November last year in what they term a campaign in solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza. The Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa. The attacks exist despite retaliatory U.S. and U.K.-led strikes on their bases in Yemen.
