Indian IT Pro Killed in Houthi Attacks in the Gulf
A series of violent Houthi attacks in the Gulf has claimed the life of an Indian IT professional and left two sailors missing following missile and drone strikes in the region.
Tragedy at Riyadh International Airport
On October 10, 2026, a Houthi missile strike targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, resulting in a devastating loss of life. Among the casualties was 46-year-old Mohammed Yousuf Ali, a Hyderabad-based IT engineer who had been residing in Riyadh for a decade.
Ali was at the airport with his family, waiting to board a flight to Medina for an Umrah pilgrimage. The strike occurred at approximately 3 p.m. local time when projectile debris struck the terminal near the check-in area. Ali succumbed to his injuries in a hospital following the impact.
Family Members Injured
The attack also severely impacted Ali's family members who were traveling with him, including his wife, Sameera, his sons Aman (18) and Wasi (16), his daughter Maryam (11), and an aunt. The injuries sustained by the family included:
- Aman: Required surgery for knee injuries.
- Wasi: Lost three toes due to the strike.
- Wife and Daughter: Sustained minor injuries.
- Aunt: Treated for head trauma.
Saudi authorities reported that the attack resulted in a total of 13 deaths and left more than 300 people injured.
Travel Disruptions and Diplomatic Response
In the wake of the violence, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed the fatality and assisted with the funeral rites held in the Saudi capital. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed his grief over the incident.
Ambassador Vipul has issued an advisory for Indian nationals, urging them to follow local laws, utilize embassy helplines, and consider alternative transit routes through Bahrain, Kuwait, or Qatar to ensure safety. The impact on travel has been significant, with major airlines including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Akasa suspending flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam until October 24. These airlines are currently offering refunds and free date changes for passengers.
Missing Sailors in Oman
The regional instability continued on October 11, when a drone strike hit the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin at the Sohar Anchorage off the coast of Oman. While nine of the 11 Indian crew members were successfully rescued, two sailors remain missing:
- Amit Singh: Aged 20-25, from Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
- Bir Bahadur Yadav: Aged 25-26, from Deoria.
The Omani Coast Guard is currently leading search efforts, working in coordination with the Indian Embassy in Muscat to locate the missing men. In a separate incident, the crew of the vessel MT Valthera survived an attack without injury.
Rising Security Concerns for Expats
The escalation of conflict has drawn international attention. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, addressed the Security Council to highlight the safety concerns of the approximately 10 million Indians living in GCC countries. He condemned the ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure and shipping, specifically noting the impact on vessels such as the India-flagged MV DP World Kaveri.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the regional volatility has contributed to a significant movement of people, noting that over 300,000 Indians have returned home since late February. Other recent incidents of concern include the death of 27-year-old Kashireddy Rakesh from Telangana in a crane pipe collapse in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, and reports of minor injuries among Indians in southern Dubai caused by interception debris.