<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>The Indian navy said today that it had rescued the crew of a US-owned vessel in the Gulf of Aden after an attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement as tensions in the region’s sea lanes disrupted global trade.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Following the attack on the US Genco Picardy late yesterday, the US military said its forces had conducted strikes on 14 Houthi missiles that “presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US navy ships in the region”.</div><div><br></div><div>Attacks by the Iran-allied Houthi militia on ships in and around the Red Sea since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers in an escalation of the war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas fighters in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians and have threatened to target US ships in response to American and British strikes on the group’s positions.</div><div><br></div><div>India said it diverted a warship deployed in the region to rescue the 22 crew on board the Genco Picardy, including nine Indians. The crew were all safe and a fire on board the vessel had been extinguished.</div><div><br></div><div>The Houthi movement said its missiles had made a “direct hit” on the bulk carrier.</div><div><br></div><div>Shipping operator Genco confirmed the attack and said its vessel was hit by a projectile while it was transiting through the Gulf of Aden with a cargo of phosphate rock. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>