India Confirms Three Mariner Deaths Following Red Sea Tanker Strike

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed the deaths of three mariners following a missile strike on the commercial vessel MV True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden. The attack marks the first instance of fatalities recorded in the ongoing maritime conflict that has disrupted one of the world’s most critical trade corridors. The Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier was targeted approximately 50 nautical miles southwest of Aden. Following the strike, the Indian Navy’s mission-deployed destroyer, INS Kolkata, arrived at the scene to lead rescue operations. Naval officials confirmed that 21 crew members, including one Indian national, were successfully evacuated using lifeboats and helicopters before being transported to Djibouti. Naval Rescue and Medical Support The strike resulted in a significant fire and structural damage, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. The Indian Navy's medical team provided emergency assistance to the survivors, some of whom sustained critical injuries. While the prompt identifies the involvement of US forces, international maritime reports and US Central Command (CENTCOM) have attributed the missile strike to regional militia…