NEW DELHI : The Indian Navy came to the rescue of a U.S.-owned ship that was hit by a missile in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday. The ship, MV True Confidence, was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have been targeting vessels in the region to protest Israel’s war in Gaza.
The Navy said it deployed its warship INS Kolkata to help the 21 crew members of the ship, including one Indian national. The ship was on fire and had suffered extensive damage due to the missile impact.
The Navy’s fire-fighting team, along with the crew of MV True Confidence, managed to control the fire after six hours of efforts. The Navy also provided medical assistance and other support to the crew.
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The Navy said it was in constant communication with the U.S. Navy and the Combined Maritime Forces, a multinational naval partnership, to coordinate the rescue operation.
The Gulf of Aden is a strategic waterway that connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. It has been witnessing increased attacks by the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and have been fighting a civil war in Yemen since 2015.
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The rebels have also been launching missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia and Israel, accusing them of aggression and oppression against the Palestinians in Gaza. Israel and Saudi Arabia are allies of the U.S. and have been supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthis.
The Indian Navy has been maintaining a presence in the Gulf of Aden since 2008 to protect Indian and international shipping from piracy and other threats. It has also been participating in various maritime security operations and exercises with other navies in the region.