On December 5, the captain issued a distress call about the flooding, leading to the evacuation of the 20 crew members, who included 15 Indians, two Sri Lankans, and one each from Nepal, Indonesia, and Vietnam. They were safely transferred to Djibouti by naval forces as part of Operation Aspides, coordinated by the European Union’s naval mission. The French frigate FS Languedoc responded to the call and evacuated the crew, who left behind their belongings in the rush to abandon the sinking vessel.
The ISA Star, managed by UAE-based Azimuth Ship Management and owned by a Hong Kong company, was carrying no cargo after loading machinery in Italy. It had recently passed through Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and was headed for Indonesia when the incident occurred about 100 nautical miles northwest of Hudaydah, Yemen. The exact cause of the flooding is unclear, with reports suggesting a potential explosion or mechanical failure. No Western officials have confirmed an attack, though authorities in Djibouti have raised this possibility. The Houthi forces, known for recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, have not claimed responsibility.