Report: Indian vessel hit by fire near Yemen - ship capsized and sank

India's shipping minister reported that the Indian vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya was hit by fire near Yemen's territorial waters, capsized and sank. All 14 crew members were rescued safely by Yemen's coast guard. Details on the type of projectile, the entity that launched it, and the circumstances have not yet been provided. Earlier today, the Houthis claimed they struck a sensitive target at Najran airport in Saudi Arabia.

India's shipping minister reported this evening (Tuesday) that the Indian vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya was hit by fire near Yemen's territorial waters, capsized and sank. This was reported according to the Reuters news agency. According to the minister, all 14 crew members aboard the vessel were rescued safely by Yemen's coast guard. At this stage, no further details have been provided about the type of projectile that struck the ship, the identity of the entity that launched it, or the circumstances that led to the incident. The vessel was hit while near Yemen's coast, an area where disruptions and threats to shipping routes have been recorded recently. Authorities in India and Yemen continue to examine the circumstances of the strike. Meanwhile, only earlier today, the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed they managed to strike a "sensitive target" at Najran airport in Saudi Arabia using a drone, and claimed the attack was carried out in response to violations of airspace in the provinces of Saada and Hajjah by Saudi unmanned aerial vehicles. According to them, "any violation of our airspace will not pass without a response and punishment." The tension between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia escalated last month, after the Houthis accused Riyadh of attacking Sanaa airport and attempting to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. Following the incident, the Houthis announced that the "de-escalation phase" had ended, threatened to attack targets in Saudi Arabia, and declared that any strike on Yemen would be met with attacks on Saudi targets.