Who Are the Houthis? Indian-Flagged Ship Attack in Red Sea Renews Security Concerns
The sinking of an Indian-flagged cargo vessel in the Red Sea after an attack off Yemen’s coast has once again drawn global attention to the Houthis, the Iran-aligned armed movement that controls large parts of northern Yemen and has increasingly targeted commercial shipping in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors. The latest incident ended without loss of life, as all 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals, were rescued by Yemeni authorities after the vessel capsized following a projectile strike.
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, emerged in the 1990s as a political and religious movement representing Yemen’s Zaidi Shia minority. Over the past decade, the group has evolved into Yemen’s most powerful armed faction, taking control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and fighting a prolonged civil war against the internationally recognised Yemeni government. The group has received political and military backing from Iran, a charge Tehran has acknowledged in varying degrees while denying direct operational control.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023, the Houthis have expanded their operations beyond Yemen by launching missiles, drones and maritime attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The group says these operations are intended to pressure Israel and its allies, though several merchant ships with no direct connection to the conflict have also come under attack, disrupting one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
In the latest incident, the Indian-flagged cargo vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya was struck by a projectile while sailing near Yemen’s western coast. The attack triggered a fire before the vessel eventually sank. India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the assault, describing continued attacks on commercial shipping as deeply concerning and calling for the restoration of safe and uninterrupted navigation through international waterways.
The successful rescue of all crew members provided relief to Indian authorities, with Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirming that the 13 Indian sailors and one Yemeni crew member were safely evacuated. The Indian Embassy has been coordinating with Yemeni authorities to ensure the welfare and repatriation of the rescued seafarers.
The attack has intensified concerns within India’s maritime community. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deploy additional Indian Navy assets to protect Indian-flagged ships and Indian seafarers operating in high-risk waters, including the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea. The union described the current security environment as “extremely hazardous” and warned that commercial crews face mounting risks amid escalating regional conflicts.
India has steadily increased its maritime surveillance and naval presence in the wider Indian Ocean and Gulf region over the past several years, escorting merchant vessels and responding to piracy and missile threats when required. However, the latest attack highlights the growing complexity of safeguarding commercial shipping as geopolitical conflicts increasingly spill into international sea lanes. The government has reiterated that the safety of Indian seafarers and the protection of global maritime trade remain national priorities.
The sinking of the Indian-flagged vessel underscores the broader strategic challenge posed by instability in the Red Sea. As attacks on merchant ships continue, governments, shipping companies and international naval forces are expected to strengthen coordination to secure one of the world’s most vital trade routes, through which a significant share of global energy supplies and commercial cargo passes each year.
