Yemen Rebels Allege Attack on Indian-Crewed Vessel

Yemen's Houthi rebels have said Saudi Arabia targeted a vessel carrying 14 Indian nationals in the southern Red Sea, near Zuqar Island. The allegation, made on Thursday, has added a new layer to an already tense situation in the region.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said Yemeni armed forces were working to rescue the people on the boat. In a post on X, he said early reports indicated the vessel had been struck by Saudi Arabia and that further updates would follow.

Sarea described the alleged move as a careless act that threatened international navigation in the Red Sea. He called on the international community to take action to prevent Saudi Arabia from carrying out similar strikes.

The claim comes one day after a late-night attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The Indian embassy said on Thursday that one Indian citizen was among the two people who died in the attack. Two other Indian citizens were injured.

The embassy said in a post on X that Saudi authorities had informed it of the incident. It said it was collecting more information and staying in touch with the families of those affected. It offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

On Thursday, India condemned the continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of External Affairs referred specifically to attacks on October 21 on the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and on Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province.

The ministry said civilians had lost their lives and others had been injured in these attacks. It stated that strikes on civilians and important infrastructure were entirely unacceptable and must stop immediately.

India also expressed solidarity with the Saudi government and people as they work to protect their sovereignty. It hoped that peace and normalcy would return to the region as soon as possible.

The Houthis have additionally alleged that Saudi military air and missile strikes hit several Yemeni provinces this week.