NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Indian Navy’s INS Kolkata swiftly responded to a maritime incident in the Gulf of Aden on March 6th. The Barbados-flagged Bulk Carrier MV True Confidence was hit by a drone or missile approximately 55 nautical miles southwest of Aden, sparking a fire onboard and causing critical injuries to several crew members. In response, INS Kolkata arrived at the scene and successfully rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national, from life rafts using its integral helicopter and boats.
The ship’s medical team provided critical medical aid to the injured crew. The incident occurred when an anti-ship ballistic missile hit the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned M/V True Confidence, as confirmed by the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The crew of the vessel reported three fatalities and at least four injuries, with three individuals in critical condition. Significant damage was inflicted upon the ship. This marks the first time fatalities have been reported from such attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been targeting merchant vessels navigating the Red Sea trade route for months.
Following the attack, the crew evacuated the vessel, and coalition warships are currently assessing the situation. Notably, this is the fifth instance in two days that the Houthis have launched anti-ship ballistic missiles, indicating an escalation in maritime tensions in the region. In January, the Indian Navy said that its warship INS Sumitra rushed to the aid of a hijacked Iranian vessel off Somalia and rescued 17 crew on board in yet another successful anti-piracy operation.
Earlier, an Indian warship came to the aid of a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden, which was hit by a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels of Yemen. Yemen-based Houthi rebels are targeting ships in the Red Sea to retaliate against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, disrupting the Suez Canal route. US, British and other coalition forces are conducting joint strikes to counter Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.
