World · Middle East · 6 hrs ago
India Seeks Facts About Reported Attack on Yacht Carrying 14 Indians
India is trying to verify reports of an incident involving a yacht off Yemen on October 22.
The Houthis say 14 Indians were aboard and that they are trying to rescue them.
The Houthi spokesperson blamed Saudi Arabia for attacking the boat near Jabal Zuqar island in the Red Sea.
India says it has no confirmed details yet and has contacted different parties to establish what happened.
The incident comes amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, after a truce largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022.
The island is near a key global shipping route, adding to concerns over the regional conflict.
India says it will help protect the Indians aboard and hopes to provide an update when verified information is available.
India’s embassy in Yemen said it was contacting different parties to establish facts about a reported incident involving Indian nationals aboard a yacht off Yemen.
The embassy said exact information was not available and that it would provide an update when authentic information became available.
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed Saudi forces attacked the vessel and said Houthi forces were trying to rescue 14 Indian nationals.
The reports placed the incident near an island in the Red Sea off Yemen, but the sources use different names for the island.
- Who
- The reports concern Indian nationals said to be aboard a yacht; the Houthis said there were 14.
- What
- The Houthis alleged that Saudi forces attacked the yacht and said they were trying to rescue those aboard. India said it was seeking facts.
- When
- The reported incident was on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Off Yemen in the Red Sea, near an island called Yuqar by The Hindu and Jabal Zuqar by Hindustan Times.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Arab media reported a Houthi claim that Saudi forces had targeted a yacht carrying 14 Indian nationals near an island off Yemen.
The Indian Embassy in Yemen said it was ascertaining details and would help ensure the Indian nationals’ safety.
The embassy said it had contacted different parties to establish the circumstances and facts, adding that exact information was not yet available.
- Reported date
- October 22, 2026
- People aboard
- 14 Indian nationals, according to the Houthi spokesperson
- Reported location
- Red Sea off Yemen, near Yuqar Island or Jabal Zuqar island
- India’s response
- Embassy contacted different parties to establish the facts
- Attribution
- Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack
3 sources
What people are saying
We have reached out to different parties to establish circumstances and facts of the incident and hope to update as soon as authentic information becomes available
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
He blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack.