Footage has emerged of sailors being rescued after the first fatal attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in one of the world’s busiest trade lanes.
The attack on the Barbados-flagged Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden killed at least three people, according to US officials.
At least four crew members were injured, of which three are in critical condition.
A US warship and the Indian navy, which were both on the scene, assisted rescue efforts.
The bulk carrier vessel True Confidence in March 2022. File pic: Dario Bonazza/Reuters
Footage shows sailors being pulled to safety by the Indian navy following the attack, on Wednesday, at around 11.30am local time.
Sailors were seen being helped from a life raft after abandoning the ship.
Later, crew members were seen being attended to by emergency services.
The ship was set ablaze around 50 nautical miles off the coast.
The Houthis began attacking ships in and around the Red Sea in October, and say their aim is to stop Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The White House has warned there will be a response to the attack.
It is unclear what that will be, but the US has already launched a series of airstrikes targeting the Houthis, a rebel group that has held Yemen’s capital since 2014.
The UK has joined some of those strikes.
It comes after another ship sank last weekend after being abandoned following a Houthi attack.
The Rubymar cargo vessel has been drifting in the Red Sea since it was hit by a Houthi missile in the Bab al Mandeb Strait on Sunday 18 February.
All crew were safely evacuated from the vessel, which is carrying 22,000 tonnes of fertiliser, which is believed to be volatile.
I am deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Yemen. This attack is a reminder of the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
I think we should send in the Marines and take out the Houthis once and for all. This is the only way to stop them from attacking our ships.
I urge all parties to the conflict in Yemen to lay down their arms and work towards a peaceful resolution. The people of Yemen have suffered enough.
I am so proud of our sailors for their bravery and resilience in the face of such a dangerous attack. They are a credit to our country.
The Houthis are a terrorist organization that has been responsible for numerous attacks on innocent civilians. This attack is a clear violation of international law.
Oh, look, another heroic rescue by our brave sailors. I wonder how much they are getting paid for this publicity stunt.
This attack is a reminder that there is no easy solution to the conflict in Yemen. It will take a concerted effort by all parties involved to bring about peace.
I remain hopeful that a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen can be found. The people of Yemen deserve to live in peace and security.
This is an outrage! The Houthis must be held accountable for this attack. We cannot allow them to continue to target innocent civilians.
I bet the sailors were so scared they were singing ‘Life on the Ocean Wave’ at the top of their lungs.
I wonder if there is more to this story than we are being told. The Houthis have denied responsibility for the attack.