A total of 21 ship crew members have been rescued by the Indian Navy following a Houthi missile strike that killed at least three onboard.

Dramatic footage shows the survivors of the Barbados-flagged Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence being pulled from the waters of the Gulf of Aden in Yemen on March 6.

According to the cargo ship's managers, 15 Filipino nationals, four Vietnamese, one Indian, and three armed guards from Sri Lanka and Nepal were on board the vessel that had been carrying steel from China to Saudi Arabia.

Three of them were killed in a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the U.S. military's Central Command said.

The rest of the crew sought refuge on a liferaft.

They were rescued by the INS Kolkata warship and received urgent medical aid.

The Indian Navy said in a March 7, statement: 'Barbados Flagged Bulk Carrier MVTrue Confidence was reportedly hit by a drone/ missile, approximately 55 nautical miles south west of Aden, on March 6, 2024, resulting in a fire onboard and critical injuries to some of the crew members forcing the crew to abandon the ship.

'INS Kolkata, deployed for Maritime Security Operations arrived at the scene of action and rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national, from the life raft using its integral helicopter and boats.

'Critical medical aid was provided to the injured crew by the ship's medical team.'

Among the victims were one Vietnamese and two Filipino crewmembers, the ship's owners said.

They added: 'A further two Filipino crew members have suffered serious injuries. All crew members were taken to Djibouti.'

Houthi Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed the fatal assault, adding the attacks would stop only when the 'siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza is lifted'.