14 Indians Safe After Yacht Attack in Yemen Waters
India's Embassy confirms 14 nationals are safe after their yacht was targeted in Yemeni waters near Zuqar Island. Read the full details here.
In a sigh of relief for families back home, the Indian Embassy in Yemen has confirmed that all 14 Indian nationals who were on board a yacht targeted in a firing incident in Yemeni waters are safe. The group is currently reported to be located around Hodeidah in Yemen.
Embassy Confirms Safety of Nationals
The confirmation comes after a period of uncertainty following the incident that occurred off the coast of Yemen on October 22. The Indian Embassy stated that it had been actively working to gather more details regarding the attack and emphasized its commitment to the well-being of its citizens.
"Reports suggest that all 14 Indian nationals are safe and located around Hodeidah in Yemen. We will continue to work for ensuring their well been," the Embassy shared.
Houthi Rebels Allege Saudi Involvement
The incident has sparked immediate geopolitical tension. Yemen's Houthi rebels have alleged that the attack was carried out by Saudi Arabia. According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, the Indian yacht was targeted near Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea.
Saree took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that the "Saudi enemy" was responsible for the firing, asserting that such "reckless acts" threaten international navigation within the Red Sea. He further stated that the Yemeni Armed Forces initiated a rescue operation to save the 14 Indian nationals and promised to share more details as they became available.
A Region on Edge
This maritime incident is the latest in a string of violent escalations in the region. Recently, an attack on the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, resulted in the deaths of two people, including one Indian national, while two other Indians were injured.
India has taken a strong stance against these hostilities, condemning the continued strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, specifically mentioning the attacks on the Dammam airport and Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field. New Delhi has expressed its hope for a swift return to peace and normalcy in the area.
International Call for Restraint
The escalating conflict has drawn the attention of the global community. UN Secretary General António Guterres has condemned the hostilities, describing the Houthi attacks against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia as "totally unacceptable."
Guterres highlighted that the ongoing violence is causing immense suffering for civilians and heightening regional tensions, calling for restraint and the establishment of a new "political horizon" to resolve the crisis in Yemen.