Dubai, Oct 23, 2026 13:08 IST
All 14 Indian nationals aboard a yacht involved in an incident off the coast of Yemen are currently safe, Indian authorities announced on Friday. The Indian mission stated that it would continue working to ensure their ongoing well-being, noting that the yacht and its crew were located near Hodeidah in Yemen.
Earlier, various Arab media outlets cited a statement from Yemen Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree, who claimed that Saudi forces had targeted the Indian yacht near Yuqar Island in the Red Sea close to the Yemeni coast. Saree alleged that the vessel was carrying the 14 Indian citizens and that Houthi forces had engaged in rescuing them, promising further details at a later time.
Responding to the reports, the Indian mission published a social media update confirming that all 14 individuals were accounted for and located around Hodeidah. While the embassy refrained from directly addressing claims regarding who carried out the alleged attack, it noted that officials had previously reached out to multiple parties to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the event.
The unfolding situation coincides with heightened hostilities between the Iran-backed Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia, characterized by mutual strikes targeting critical infrastructure and facilities in the region. Just prior to these reports, an Indian citizen died and three others sustained injuries in separate incidents affecting an oil field and a major airport in Saudi Arabia.
Indian diplomatic representatives maintain that they are closely monitoring the situation and communicating with relevant authorities to verify all details and safeguard the crew members involved.