New Delhi: The crisis in the Red Sea has intensified with yet another Houthi drone attack on a merchant ship, carrying at least nine Indians on board.
The Indian Navy diverted its destroyer INS Visakhapatnam to the distressed vessel.
According to information from the Navy, a one-way attack was launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, targeting MV Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden, shortly after 11 pm Wednesday.
The Marshall Islands-flagged and US-owned and operated bulk carrier ship was hit by a loitering munition, a replay of a similar attack that took place on MT Chem Pluto in the Arabian Sea on 23 December, while it had been on its way to India.
As an SOS message was sent out, the Indian Navy diverted INS Visakhapatnam to the vessel. The ship is part of the 12 other surface vessels that the Indian Navy has deployed in the wake of increased threats of piracy and drone attacks, not just in the Gulf of Aden but also in the Arabian Sea.
Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists from INS Visakhapatnam boarded the vessel and inspected the damaged areas. A statement said specialists rendered the area safe for further transit after a thorough inspection. The vessel will now proceed to the next port of call.
The Indian Navy said INS Vishakhapatnam — deployed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations — “swiftly responded” and intercepted the vessel around midnight. No casualties were reported and fire was under control, the Indian Navy said.
The latest attack follows several incidents in the Red Sea after the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
As Israel intensified its assault on Gaza, Houthi rebels began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, in a “show of support for Palestinians”.. Some of the ships attacked had Indians on board.
The first such attack was countered in mid-December by the Indian Navy. The mission-deployed platforms responded to a hijacking incident in the Arabian Sea of the Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen.
In a couple of days, on 23 December, the Indian Navy again countered a drone attack in the Arabian Sea on MT Chem Pluto, which had 21 Indians of the 22 crew on board.
The Indian Navy’s Marine Commandos on 5 January rescued a hijacked, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk in the Arabian Sea, which had 21 crew members on board, including 15 Indians.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea
The Yemen-based and Iran-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks on merchant vessels transiting the Red Sea, thereby threatening the “critical artery” of trade. The US has launched several attacks to weaken the pro-Palestine Houthis.
On 17 January, the US Central Command forces conducted strikes on 14 Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
According to the US Central Command, more than 27 attacks have taken place on ships in the Red Sea.
The US even conducted strikes inside Yemen, as Houthi attacks against international shipping continued. The US and UK have carried out multiple attacks with the latest being on 16 January, when the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into international shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea.
The tension emanating out of the conflict has risen with Iran and Pakistan striking each other’s territories against terrorist activities.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also struck what they claimed was an Israeli “spy headquarters” in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, according to a report by BBC. The Revolutionary Guards also carried out strikes in Syria against “terrorist bases,” according to the report.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Indian Navy rescues crew after attack on ship off coast of Yemen