Reckless act: Saudi Arabia targeted yacht with 14 Indians, claim Houthis

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed Saudi Arabia targeted a yacht carrying 14 Indians near Zuqar Island, calling the act 'reckless'. The Iran-backed militia said Yemeni forces rescued those aboard even as it has escalated attacks on Saudi infrastructure.Houthi rebels claimed they have rescued Indians from the yacht allegedly attacked by Saudi Arabia. (Image for representation: Reuters)New Delhi,Oct 22, 2026 17:06 ISTYemen's Houthi rebels have claimed that Saudi Arabia targeted a yacht carrying 14 Indian nationals near Zuqar Island in the Red Sea, saying Yemeni forces rescued those on board. The allegation comes amid escalating attacks on Saudi infrastructure, with an Indian national among two people killed in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Wednesday."The Saudi enemy is targeting an Indian yacht near Zuqar Island, carrying 14 people of Indian nationality according to preliminary information," posted Brigadier Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthi-aligned Yemeni Armed Forces.Saree said the Yemeni Armed Forces had rescued the Indians."This reckless act by the Saudi enemy in targeting it threatens international navigation in the Red Sea, and the international community must stop the Saudi enemy from these reckless actions," Saree posted on X. The spokesperson also alleged that the incident threatened international navigation in the Red Sea and called on the international community to stop what the group described as Saudi Arabia's "irresponsible actions".The circumstances surrounding the reported incident, including the condition of the 14 Indians and the circumstances of the alleged targeting, remained unclear.INDIAN NATIONAL KILLED IN DAMMAM AIRPORT ATTACK The reported yacht incident comes amid a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia's critical infrastructure that have affected Indian nationals. One Indian national was killed and two others injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Wednesday night (October 21), the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Thursday."One Indian national was among two people who unfortunately lost their lives in the attack on Dammam airport yesterday night and two Indian nationals were injured," the embassy said in a post on social media.The casualties come amid a spate of drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's airports, energy installations and other critical infrastructure. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been involved in a prolonged campaign against the kingdom. However, Saudi authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the Dammam airport attack.The latest incident follows an attack on Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield on Wednesday, in which another Indian national was injured.INDIAN INJURED IN SHAYBAH OILFIELD DRONE ATTACKThe Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Wednesday night that it had learnt of an Indian national being injured in an attack at the Shaybah oilfield and was in touch with Saudi authorities to obtain further details. It added that all necessary assistance would be provided to the injured person.According to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy, air defences intercepted a drone attempting to target the oilfield. Falling shrapnel killed two residents, a Filipino and a Nepali national, and injured two others, including the Indian national and a Pakistani citizen.The interception also caused a fire in a contractor's vehicle outside the facility's perimeter. Saudi Arabian authorities said the incident did not affect oilfield operations.Shaybah, operated by state-owned Saudi Aramco, is a major oilfield in the Rub' al-Khali desert in southeastern Saudi Arabia, near the border with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The facility is an important component of the kingdom’s oil production infrastructure. Saudi authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the attempted attack.Earlier this month, an Indian national was killed and several others were injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.INDIA CONDEMNS ATTACKS, ISSUES ADVISORY TO NATIONALSIndia has strongly condemned attacks on civilian facilities and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, calling for an immediate end to the hostilities.In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We strongly condemn the continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province on October 21."The Indian Embassy has also issued advisories urging Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain alert, follow instructions issued by local authorities and take shelter indoors during aerial attacks.The mission has cautioned Indians against filming or sharing images and videos of drone or missile interceptions and their impact sites, warning that such actions could have legal consequences under Saudi law.Saudi Arabia is home to approximately 2.74 million Indian nationals, who work across a range of sectors and form a significant link between the two countries. The latest incidents have heightened concerns over their safety as attacks continue between the militia and the kingdom.- Ends(Written by Avinash Kateel)