Suspected drone attack on merchant ship in Gulf of Aden, rescued by Indian Navy warship

An Indian Navy warship provided vital assistance to a merchant ship after it caught fire following a suspected drone or missile attack in the Gulf of Aden. The Palau-flagged ship MV Islander was attacked on Thursday and a crew member was injured, Indian military officials said on Saturday. Responding quickly to the distress call, an Indian Navy destroyer deployed in the Gulf of Aden for maritime security operations reached the ship on Thursday afternoon.

A Navy explosive ordnance disposal team boarded the ship and cleared it of any remaining risks, after which the ship was cleared for onward transit. The latest incident comes amid growing global concerns over attacks on various commercial ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthis. A medical team from the Indian Navy also boarded MV Islander and provided medical aid to the injured crew member.

In a quick response to the distress call from the ship, the Indian warship arrived in the vicinity of the cargo ship within a few hours to provide critical assistance, an official said. Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said that the tireless efforts of Indian Naval ships reaffirm the Indian Navy’s strong commitment towards the safety of merchant ships and seafarers. Over the past few weeks, the Indian Navy has provided assistance to several merchant ships following attacks in the western Indian Ocean.