Embassy Confirms Safety of 14 Nationals After Yacht Incident Off Yemen

UPDATE - follow-up to All 14 Indians in yacht incident off Yemen coast reported safe: Embassy: All 14 Indian nationals onboard a yacht involved in an incident off the coast of Yemen are safe, India said on Friday.

What Happened

Arab media quoted Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree on Thursday claiming that Saudi forces targeted the Indian yacht near Yuqar Island in the Red Sea. Saree stated that the yacht carried 14 Indian nationals and that Houthi forces were rescuing them. The Indian mission posted on social media that the nationals are safe and located around Hodeidah in Yemen. The Indian embassy has not yet commented on the source of the attack and stated it is working to establish the circumstances and facts surrounding the incident.

Context

The incident takes place amid growing tensions and hostilities between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia. Separate recent attacks on a Saudi airport and an oil field left one Indian national dead and three others injured.