14 Indians on a boat attacked near Bab el-Mandeb? Houthis blame Saudi Arabia, say rescue operation | Today’s news
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group is rescuing a boat carrying 14 Indian citizens that was attacked off Jabal Zuqar Island near Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Thursday (October 22nd), blaming Saudi Arabia for the incident.
The development comes at a time of escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with attacks targeting Saudi energy infrastructure and airports. India has strongly condemned the ongoing attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the October 21 strikes on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province.
Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to the alleged attack on the ship. The circumstances of the incident were not independently established in the available information.
India condemns attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that the attacks on Saudi Arabia resulted in the deaths and injuries of civilians.
“Unfortunately, one Indian citizen died and two others were injured in the attack on the Dammam airport, while another Indian citizen was injured in the attack on the Shaybah oil field,” the ministry said.
The MEA expressed its condolences to the family of the Indian national killed in the Dammam airport attack and wished the injured a speedy recovery. It added that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh is in touch with the Saudi authorities and will provide all possible assistance.
India also called for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure, calling them “totally unacceptable”. She said she stood in solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia in protecting the kingdom’s sovereignty and expressed hope that peace and normalcy would return to the region.
Aramco asks employees to evacuate Dhahran headquarters
Separately, Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco ordered employees to evacuate its headquarters in Dhahran and work remotely, Reuters reported, citing six people with knowledge of the matter.
The instruction follows a wave of Houthi attacks targeting the kingdom, including Saudi energy facilities and airports. The reason for the evacuation was unclear and Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Aramco facilities in the Red Sea city of Yanbu and the Saudi Ministry of Defense in Riyadh. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the reported strikes.
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted drones over Riyadh and Medina on Thursday. Earlier, a Houthi attack on Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport on Wednesday night killed two people, including an Indian national, and wounded eight others, according to a report. Saudi aviation authorities said that airport operations had been restored and air traffic had returned to normal.
The renewed fighting also raised concerns about oil supplies. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark stock index fell 2.5% on Thursday, according to LSEG data, while oil prices rose to their highest level since May on fears of further escalation in the Middle East.
Indian Embassy issues security advisory
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh had earlier appealed to Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain calm and vigilant amid the evolving security situation.
In its October 13 advisory, the embassy asked Indians to stay indoors and follow instructions issued by local authorities through official channels in case of an airstrike. He also advised them not to spread or repost videos or messages related to ongoing events.
The embassy said it had opened a 24-hour control room to assist Indian nationals and urged travelers to stay in regular contact with their airlines and check for flight updates before travelling.
The embassy also said that Indian nationals whose visit, tourist, umrah or business visas have expired because they were unable to leave due to flight unavailability will be allowed to leave Saudi Arabia without paying fines, according to information provided by Saudi authorities.
Read also | Britain to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi drones and missiles
