Two Sri Lankans, one of whom is injured, were among 21 crew members rescued by the Indian warship INS Kolkata from the cargo ship ‘True Confidence’ after it was attacked by a missile by the Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, according to the Sri Lanka Navy Spokesman.

The details of the injured Sri Lankan are not yet available. It is also unclear if there were any other Sri Lankans on board the vessel.

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.