19 Indian seafarers evacuated from Yemen after two weeks, begin return journey on Diwali

Nineteen Indian seafarers stranded in Yemen for a fortnight have been evacuated and are on their way home, the Indian embassy in Yemen said on Sunday. The sailors were stuck in Hodeidah and Sana'a before arrangements were made for their departure. The mission said all 19 were safe. Their arrival in India has not been confirmed.

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In a post on X, the Indian embassy in Yemen said the seafarers were returning after spending around two weeks in the two Yemeni cities.

"The Embassy of India to Yemen has successfully evacuated 19 Indian seafarers who were stranded in Hodeidah and Sana’a (Yemen) for the past two weeks. All seafarers are safe, in good health, and on their way back to India. The Embassy sincerely thanks all concerned for their valuable cooperation and continued support in facilitating the safe evacuation of our Indian nationals," the embassy said.

Security situation in Yemen and the Red Sea

The evacuation comes amid continuing security concerns in Yemen and its surrounding waters, where years of conflict have affected commercial shipping and maritime operations.

Hodeidah, situated on Yemen's western coast, is an important Red Sea port, while Sana'a is the country's capital. Both cities are under the control of the Houthi movement, which has been involved in prolonged fighting with forces supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government.

Commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea and the nearby Bab el-Mandeb Strait have faced repeated attacks. The strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and forms part of a major shipping route used for trade between Asia and Europe.

In July 2026, India's Directorate General of Maritime Administration issued a security advisory covering Indian-flagged vessels and foreign ships carrying Indian seafarers travelling in or around Yemeni waters, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the southern Red Sea.

In August, the International Maritime Organization condemned an attack on the cargo vessel Tihamah off Yemen's Al Mokha coast, which resulted in several seafarer deaths. The organisation urged shipowners and operators to assess security risks before sending vessels through the affected waters.

India's previous evacuation operations in Yemen

India has previously undertaken evacuation operations in Yemen during periods of armed conflict.

In 2015, the government launched Operation Rahat to bring Indian nationals out of Yemen as fighting intensified. The evacuation involved Indian Navy warships, passenger vessels and aircraft, with Indian personnel coordinating departures through different locations in the country. Those operations included evacuations from Hodeidah and Sana'a, as well as other Yemeni ports.

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