Indian Navy rescues crew after attack on ship off coast of Yemen

The Indian Navy said on Thursday it had rescued the crew of a US-owned vessel in the Gulf of Aden after an attack by Houthis as tensions in the region's sea lanes disrupted global trade.

Following the attack on the US Genco Picardy late on Wednesday, 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".

Attacks by Houthis on ships in and around the Red Sea since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers.

The Houthis have threatened to target US ships in response to American and British strikes on the group's positions.

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.

The Houthi movement said its missiles had made a "direct hit" on the bulk carrier.

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.

The United States on Wednesday returned the Houthis to a list of terrorist groups. US officials said the move was aimed at cutting off funding and weapons the movement has used to attack or hijack ships.

The attacks target a route that accounts for about 15 per cent of the world's shipping traffic and acts as a vital conduit between Europe and Asia.

The alternative shipping route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope can add 10-14 days to a journey compared to passage via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

The crisis was rippling through the business world, with banking executives worried the crisis might reignite inflationary pressures.