Yemen yacht incident: India moves swiftly to verify safety of 14 nationals

Indian embassy investigates Red Sea yacht incident

Indian diplomatic missions in the region have moved quickly to verify the circumstances surrounding an incident involving 14 Indian nationals aboard a yacht off the coast of Yemen, reiterating New Delhi's unwavering focus on protecting its citizens abroad.

The Indian Embassy in Yemen confirmed that it is actively contacting all relevant parties to gather authentic details after reports surfaced regarding a vessel near Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea.

"We are continuing to make efforts to find more details about the incident off the coast of Yemen on October 22 in which apparently there were Indian nationals on board a yacht," the mission stated in a social media release. "Given the prevailing conflict situation, exact information is not currently available. We have reached out to different parties to establish circumstances and facts of the incident and hope to update as soon as authentic information becomes available."

Conflicting claims off Zuqar Island

The development follows statements from Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, who claimed that Saudi forces targeted an Indian yacht in the vicinity of Zuqar Island. Saree stated that Houthi forces were conducting rescue operations for the 14 Indian nationals aboard and promised further updates.

However, no independent verification of the claim has been established, nor have details regarding vessel damage or individual casualties been confirmed by primary maritime authorities. The alleged attackers have issued no official statement regarding the reported strike.

India maintains firm stance on maritime safety

The Red Sea remains a vital maritime corridor connecting the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. India has consistently advocated for uninterrupted freedom of navigation and strict adherence to international maritime law to safeguard global commerce and crew welfare.

The Ministry of External Affairs also expressed strong condemnation over recent attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including strikes on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Aramco's Shaybah oil field, which caused civilian casualties, including Indian nationals.

Indian diplomatic channels remain fully deployed to ensure the well-being and safe passage of all 14 citizens as accurate details are confirmed.