- Indian Embassy investigating yacht incident off Yemen coast.
- Fourteen Indian nationals reportedly involved in the Red Sea.
- Houthi claims Saudi attack, assures rescue of Indians.
The Indian Embassy in Yemen on Thursday said it was ascertaining details about an incident involving 14 Indian nationals on board a yacht off the coast of Yemen and would provide all possible help to ensure their safety, amid escalating tensions in the region.
"We have seen reports regarding an incident involving 14 Indian nationals on board a yacht off the coast of Yemen today," the mission said in a post on X. "We are ascertaining further details about the incident and will provide all possible help for ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian nationals," it added.
We have seen reports regarding an incident involving 14 Indian nationals on board a yacht off the coast of Yemen today. We are ascertaining further details about the incident and will provide all possible help for ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian nationals.@MEAIndia
— India in Yemen (@IndiaInYemen) October 22, 2026
The response came after some Arab media quoted Yemen's Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree as claiming that Saudi forces targeted the Indian yacht near Yuqar Island near the Yemeni coast in the Red Sea. Saree said that the yacht is carrying 14 Indian nationals and that Houthi forces are rescuing them. He said more details would be provided later.
العدو السعودي يستهدف يختاً هندياً بالقرب من جزيرة زقر وعلى متنه 14 شخصاً من الجنسية الهندية بحسب المعلومات الأولية. القوات المسلحة اليمنية تقوم بإنقاذهم وستقدم المزيد من التفاصيل لاحقاً، وهذا التصرف الأرعن للعدو السعودي بهذا الاستهداف يهدد الملاحة الدولية في البحر الأحمر وعلى المجتمع الدولي إيقاف العدو السعودي عن هذه التصرفات الطائشة.
— العميد/ يحيى سريع (@Yah_Saree) October 22, 2026
The hostilities between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia have escalated in recent months, with both sides targeting each other''s facilities and infrastructure. An Indian national was killed and three others injured in two separate attacks on a major airport and an oil field in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
The casualties come amid a series of drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s airports, energy facilities and other critical infrastructure. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have waged a prolonged campaign against the kingdom. However, Saudi authorities have yet to publicly attribute the attack on Dammam airport to any group.
Recommended For You
The latest incident follows a drone attack targeting Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield on Wednesday, in which another Indian national sustained injuries.
Indian national injured in Shaybah Oilfield attack
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Wednesday night that it had received information about an Indian national being injured in the attack on the Shaybah oilfield. The embassy said it was coordinating with Saudi authorities to obtain further details and assured that all necessary assistance would be extended to the injured individual.
According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, air defence systems intercepted a drone attempting to strike the oilfield. Debris from the interception killed two foreign nationals-- a Filipino and a Nepali-- and injured two others, including an Indian and a Pakistani national.
The incident also triggered a fire in a contractor’s vehicle outside the oilfield’s perimeter. Saudi authorities said the attack did not disrupt operations at the facility.
(With inputs from agency)