Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 9: Nineteen Indian seafarers who had been stranded in Yemen for nearly two weeks have been safely evacuated and are on their way back to India, the Indian Embassy in Yemen announced on Sunday.
The seafarers were stranded in the Yemeni cities of Hodeidah and Sana'a amid escalating tensions in the region. Confirming their evacuation in a post on X, the embassy said all 19 Indians were safe and in good health.
"The Embassy of India to Yemen has successfully evacuated 19 Indian seafarers who were stranded in Hodeidah and Sana'a (Yemen) for the past two weeks. All seafarers are safe, in good health, and on their way back to India," the embassy said, thanking all concerned for their cooperation and support in facilitating the evacuation.
The evacuation comes days after India confirmed that 14 Indian nationals aboard a vessel involved in an incident off the Yemeni coast were safe. However, it remains unclear whether these 14 nationals are among the 19 seafarers who have now been evacuated.
On October 23, the Indian Embassy had confirmed that all 14 Indian nationals aboard a dhow near Hodeidah were safe and that it was in contact with relevant parties to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Earlier, Yemen-based Houthi group spokesperson Yahya Saree had claimed that Saudi forces targeted the Indian vessel near Jabal Zuqar Island, also referred to as Yuqar Island, in the Red Sea, close to the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait.
According to the Houthi spokesperson, the vessel was carrying 14 Indian nationals and Houthi forces had participated in rescuing them. The allegation against Saudi forces had not been independently established, and Saudi authorities had not publicly confirmed the reported attack.
The incident took place amid renewed tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement, with missile and drone attacks and retaliatory military operations reported in recent days.
Saudi Arabia has intercepted missiles and drones launched by the Houthis, while Saudi-led coalition forces have reportedly carried out airstrikes in Yemen. The developments have raised concerns about a possible return to wider hostilities following a period of relative calm under the 2022 truce.
The renewed escalation has also raised concerns over the safety of civilians, energy infrastructure and international maritime traffic in the region.
The Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait are strategically important waterways connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal. The narrow passage between Yemen and the Horn of Africa is a major international shipping corridor, particularly for commercial vessels transporting oil, gas and other goods between Asia and Europe.
Any disruption to maritime traffic in the region could have wider implications for international trade, shipping costs and energy supplies.
India has significant interests in the region, with thousands of Indian seafarers employed across international shipping fleets. Their safety has remained a major concern amid continuing instability and attacks on commercial vessels in West Asian waters.