The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday confirmed that all 14 Indian nationals aboard a dhow involved in an incident off the coast of Yemen are safe. New Delhi is actively working to establish direct contact with the crew members to ensure their well-being and arrange their repatriation to India.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian government has been in touch with various regional stakeholders and confirmed that the stranded citizens are currently located in the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
“On the 14 Indian nationals who were on a dhow, we understand that all of them are safe now, and we will try to reach out to them through parties and through our community members and try to see how best we can look after their well-being and possible return to India,” Jaiswal stated during his bi-weekly media briefing.
Reiterating the official position in response to follow-up queries, Jaiswal emphasized that all 14 seafarers are unharmed and accommodated in Hodeidah, highlighting India’s steadfast commitment to the safety of its diaspora abroad. Earlier, the Indian diplomatic mission confirmed it was actively coordinating with relevant regional authorities to clarify the precise circumstances surrounding the maritime event.
In a social media update on Friday, the mission noted that initial field reports confirmed the safety of all 14 Indian nationals within Yemeni territory. The diplomatic clarification follows reports from select Arab media outlets quoting Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, who claimed that Saudi forces had targeted the vessel near Yuqar Island in the Red Sea and that Houthi units were assisting the crew.
The Indian Embassy, however, has not officially attributed the attack to any specific force. The incident unfolds amidst escalating military friction between Iran-backed Houthi forces and Saudi Arabia targeting critical infrastructure—a cross-border escalation that resulted in the death of one Indian national and injuries to three others in separate attacks on a Saudi airport and petroleum facility on Wednesday.
Additionally, spokesperson Jaiswal stated that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah are in continuous operational coordination with commercial airlines and tour operators to facilitate the smooth return of Indian Umrah pilgrims currently stranded in Saudi Arabia due to regional travel disruptions.
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