19 Indian Seafarers Evacuated from Houthi-Controlled Yemen
The Indian Embassy has successfully evacuated 19 stranded seafarers from Houthi-controlled Yemen. All are reported safe and en route to India.
The Indian Embassy in Yemen has announced the successful evacuation of 19 Indian seafarers who had been stranded in Houthi-controlled territories for two weeks. The group, which was held in Hodeidah and Sana’a, was safely moved between November 8 and November 9, 2026.
According to an official statement released via X, all 19 individuals are reported to be in good health and are currently en route to India. The mission expressed its gratitude to the various parties that assisted in facilitating their departure from the volatile region.
Uncertainty Surrounding Previous Yacht Incident
This successful rescue follows a separate, high-tension incident involving 14 Indian nationals aboard a yacht near Hodeidah. On October 23, the Indian mission had verified the safety of that group after Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree alleged that Saudi forces had targeted the vessel near Yuqar Island in the Red Sea.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether the 14 individuals from the yacht incident were included in the group of 19 recently evacuated by the embassy.
The Growing Human Cost of the West Asia Conflict
The Ministry of External Affairs has highlighted the increasing dangers faced by Indian nationals navigating the region. Since February 2026, at least 23 Indian nationals have died as a result of the ongoing West Asia conflict, with 15 of those casualties being seafarers.
The conflict has seen several tragic incidents involving Indian citizens, including:
- Saudi Arabia Strikes: Three Indians were killed following strikes on Riyadh airport, including Mohammed Yusuf Ali from Hyderabad and Shaikh Sayeed from Kamareddy.
- MSV Al Jusufi Attack: In early November, Gandhar Nahim Ajij, an Indian seafarer from Gujarat, was killed when an unidentified aerial object struck the India-flagged vessel MSV Al Jusufi off the coast of Oman.
During the attack on the MSV Al Jusufi, the Omani Coast Guard managed to successfully rescue 13 other crew members from the vessel.