Nineteen Indian seafarers who had been stranded in Yemen for nearly two weeks have been evacuated and are now on their way back to India, the Indian Embassy in Yemen announced on November 8, 2026.
The seafarers had been stranded in Hodeidah and Sana’a amid the deteriorating security situation in the country. In a post on X, the embassy confirmed that all 19 were safe and in good health, while expressing gratitude to everyone involved in facilitating their evacuation.
The evacuation comes days after India confirmed that 14 Indian nationals aboard a yacht involved in an incident off the Yemeni coast were safe. However, it remains unclear whether these 14 individuals are part of the 19 seafarers who have now been evacuated.
On October 23, the Indian mission had confirmed that the 14 nationals were safe near Hodeidah and said it was in contact with the concerned parties to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to reports in some Arab media outlets, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree alleged that the yacht had been struck by Saudi forces near Yuqar Island in the Red Sea. He also claimed that Houthi forces had assisted in rescuing the Indians on board.
The development comes amid renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has reportedly intercepted Houthi missiles and drones, while the Saudi-led coalition has carried out airstrikes in Yemen. The escalation has raised concerns about a possible widening of the conflict, following a period of relative calm after the 2022 truce.
Meanwhile, maritime security concerns are also growing around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The strait is a critical international shipping corridor, linking the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
Any further escalation in the region could threaten commercial shipping, disrupt international trade flows and increase security risks for vessels transiting one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.