South China Morning Post reported on August 5: "The Indian Minister of Shipping said a shell hit a merchant vessel flying the Indian flag, causing it to capsize and sink near Yemen, but all 14 crew members aboard were rescued."
The incident occurred on August 4 local time. The commercial cargo ship "Faize Noore Oliya," flying the Indian flag, was attacked and sank in the Red Sea off the western coast of Yemen. Although all 14 crew members (including 13 Indians) were rescued without casualties, the event sent an extremely dangerous signal amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea region.
Indian officials stated the vessel was struck by a "projectile"; however, Yemeni government forces and multiple media outlets indicated the ship sank after being hit at close range by a "suicide boat (or unmanned vessel) carrying explosives." This type of close-range, unpredictable attack marks a rapid shift in Red Sea navigation risks—from "localized harassment" toward "full-scale confrontation."
Following the incident, Yemeni government forces quickly blamed the Houthi rebels and publicly announced the successful rescue, aiming to gain international support and strengthen their political standing. However, the Houthis have remained silent to date—neither claiming responsibility nor denying involvement. This silence may represent an internal test of operational coordination, or could be a psychological warfare tactic aimed at pressuring India.
India's official response was swift and strongly worded. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Minister of Shipping issued consecutive statements, sharply condemning the "unprovoked attack," demanding an immediate halt to attacks on commercial shipping, and instructing maritime authorities to fully safeguard Indian seafarers. This firm stance stems from the fact that the ship flew the Indian flag—an issue that directly crosses New Delhi’s "red line."
It is worth questioning why this particular merchant vessel was targeted. The most critical political motive lies in Prime Minister Modi’s clearly pro-Israel stance during the Israel-Palestine conflict. Modi himself even referred to Israel as a "fatherland" in a speech before the Israeli parliament and has continued deepening military cooperation with Israel during the Gaza crisis—for example, through joint production of the Iron Dome system. Such positions have provoked discontent among several Muslim-majority nations. Although the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility, widespread speculation links this attack directly to India’s alignment on the Israel-Palestine issue.
India is one of the world’s largest exporters of seafarers, with registered seafarers currently accounting for approximately 12% to 17% of the global total. With major global energy chokepoints like the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz under intense pressure, large numbers of Indian-flagged vessels and crews frequently transit high-risk waters. Earlier in July, eight Indian crew members had already died in multiple attacks in the Oman Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The sheer scale of Indian maritime presence significantly increases the likelihood of Indian ships being inadvertently drawn into and damaged by conflicts in the Red Sea.
In summary, the attack on the Indian merchant vessel in the Red Sea is both a product of the Houthis’ "indiscriminate blockade" and geopolitical retaliation, and a potential cost borne by the Indian government for its excessive tilt toward Israel in the complex Middle Eastern power game. This incident also signals that the safety situation along the Red Sea route has deteriorated to the brink of full-scale confrontation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872674692926602/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.