Nineteen Indian sailors evacuated from Yemen after two‑week ordeal

Nineteen Indian sailors who had been stuck in Yemen’s ports of Hodeidah and Sana’a for two weeks were flown back to India on Sunday, the Indian Embassy in Yemen said. The embassy thanked the authorities and volunteers who helped organise the safe return of the crew members, who are reported to be in good health. The evacuation follows a recent statement that fourteen Indian nationals on a yacht near Hodeidah were safe after an incident that involved alleged Saudi targeting of the vessel near Yuqar Island in the Red Sea. It is not clear whether those fourteen are part of the nineteen now repatriated. Yemeni Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed Saudi forces had struck the Indian yacht, while Houthi fighters were said to be rescuing the passengers. The episode occurs amid a fresh flare‑up between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement, with both sides exchanging missile and drone attacks and the Saudi‑led coalition conducting airstrikes in Yemen. The renewed fighting has raised worries about the safety of the Red Sea and the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a crucial route for global oil and trade shipments.

Context

The Red Sea corridor links Europe, Asia and Africa, so any disruption can affect fuel prices and cargo schedules worldwide. Regional tensions often spill over into commercial shipping, prompting countries to evacuate their nationals when hostilities intensify.