RED SEA CRISIS DEEPENS AS HOUTHIS CLAIM SAUDI STRIKE ON BOAT CARRYING 14 INDIANS, LAUNCH RESCUE OPERATION

October 22, 2026

RED SEA, OCTOBER 22: Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed that Saudi Arabia targeted a boat carrying 14 Indian nationals near Zuqar Island in the Red Sea, prompting the group to announce rescue operations for those aboard.

The reported incident adds to mounting security concerns in the strategically important waterway, where escalating regional hostilities have raised risks for commercial vessels, seafarers and other people travelling by sea.

According to the Houthi claim, the boat was carrying 14 Indian nationals when it was targeted near Zuqar Island. The group said rescue operations had been initiated, but further details about the circumstances of the incident, the condition of those aboard and the outcome of the operation were not immediately available.

The allegation had not been independently confirmed, and no official Indian response was available at the time of reporting. Details surrounding the alleged Saudi action also remained unclear.

The Red Sea is a vital international shipping corridor connecting maritime routes between Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Continued military activity in the region has heightened concerns about maritime security and the safety of civilian seafarers.

The reported incident places the safety of the 14 Indian nationals at the centre of attention as the situation develops. Confirmation of the circumstances, the condition of those aboard and the progress of rescue efforts remains essential to establishing the full picture of the incident.