Sanaa: The Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed that they rescued 14 Indian nationals from a yacht that was allegedly attacked by Saudi forces in the Red Sea.
India’s Embassy in Yemen has confirmed that all 14 nationals on board the yacht that was target of a firing incident in Yemeni waters are safe.
The Indian nationals are now located around Hodeidah in Yemen, reports said. The Embassy said that it is working to ensure their well being.
It was making efforts to find out more details about the incident off the coast of Yemen on October 22, the Embassy had said earlier.
The Houthis alleged that Saudi Arabia had targeted an Indian yacht carrying 14 Indian nationals near Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea, following which their forces initiated a rescue operation, as reported by ANI.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, citing preliminary information, stated that the Yemeni Armed Forces would share further details as they became available.
“The Saudi enemy is targeting an Indian yacht near Zuqar Island, carrying 14 people of Indian nationality, according to preliminary information. The Yemeni Armed Forces are rescuing them and will provide more details later. This reckless act by the Saudi enemy in targeting it threatens international navigation in the Red Sea, and the international community must stop the Saudi enemy from these reckless actions,” Saree had posted on X.
This incident occurred after an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, killed two people, including an Indian national, while two other Indian nationals sustained injuries, according to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
The continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the strikes on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field have been strongly condemned by India.
New Delhi also expressed hope for an early restoration of peace and normalcy in the region.
UN secretary general António Guterres also condemned tha escalating hostilities in the region and called for a new political horizon.
“Escalating hostilities in Yemen and continued Houthi attacks against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia – which are totally unacceptable – are inflicting immense suffering on civilians and adding to regional tensions. We need restraint. And Yemen needs a political horizon,” he said.