Hải Phòng City's local authorities representatives came to pay respect to the grieving family of Đặng Duy Kiên, one of the three sailors killed in a missile attack on a cargo ship by Houthi forces. — VNA/VNS Photo

HẢI PHÒNG — The body of Đặng Duy Kiên, one of the three sailors killed in a missile attack on True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged cargo ship, by Houthi forces off the coast of Yemen on March 6, were brought back to Việt Nam on March 24.

Representatives from the employing company, as well as local authorities in the northern city Hải Phòng, came to express their condolences.

There were 20 crew members, consisting of 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, and one Indian, on board the True Confidence when the Houthi forces fired a missile at the ship. The strike also resulted in the deaths of two Filipinos.

The three Vietnamese sailors surviving the attack returned home on March 14.

Since the incident occurred, the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt has kept a close watch on the situation, directly communicated with and given encouragement to the sailors. It also dispatched consular personnel to Djibouti to visit and support the sailors, while coordinating with relevant authorities there and the parties concerned to complete procedures for the repatriation of the deceased’s remains.

In response to the attack, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng has stated that Việt Nam strongly condemns violent and inhumane attacks against innocent civilians and civilian vessels on international maritime routes.

"We urge relevant parties to immediately cease the use of force and ensure security, safety, and freedom for international maritime routes in accordance with international law," Hằng stressed. — VNS