Houthis Claim Saudi Arabia Targeted Boat Carrying 14 Indians In Red Sea, Rescue Operations Launched
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Thursday claimed Saudi Arabia targeted a boat carrying 14 Indian nationals near Zuqar Island in the Red Sea, saying rescue operations had been launched.
The allegation was made by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, who cited initial reports of the incident. The circumstances of the alleged attack and the condition of the Indians on board remained unclear in the initial reports.
Houthis Say Rescue Efforts Are Underway
According to the Houthi-run Saba news agency, the group’s armed forces were engaged in rescuing the passengers and would provide further details later. The statement described the incident as a threat to international navigation in the Red Sea.
The claim has not been independently verified, and no detailed account of how the boat was allegedly targeted has emerged. The available reports also do not establish whether any of the 14 Indian nationals were injured or whether all have been accounted for.
Incident Comes Amid Escalating Saudi-Houthi Tensions
The reported incident comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, with attacks on airports and other infrastructure adding to regional security concerns.
India has condemned recent attacks on Saudi civilian and energy infrastructure. On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over attacks that killed an Indian national and injured other Indians in separate incidents in Saudi Arabia.
Indian Nationals’ Safety Remains Unclear
The immediate priority is establishing the condition and whereabouts of the 14 Indians reportedly aboard the boat. As of the latest available reports, there was no confirmed public update from Indian authorities on this specific incident.
The allegation against Saudi Arabia remains a claim made by the Houthis. Further information from the authorities involved will be needed to establish what happened near Zuqar Island.
