New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs has rejected reports claiming that atleast 20 Indians were killed in Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said that 13 of them were alive while seven members remained missing near Mokha in Yemen after their boat came under air strike.
MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Out of 20 crew members, 13 are alive and 7 are reported to be missing. We have ascertained that two boats came under aerial bombardment, boats were carrying a total of 20 Indian crew members.”
No other information is currently available regarding the identity of the Indian nationals,” Swarup said, adding that: Indian embassy in Djibouti is in touch with local contacts to get further information on the matter.
India does not have embassy in Yemen, which was shut down in April after evacuation of its nationals. Yesterday, local residents and fishermen said planes from the Saudi-led alliance struck two boats at al-Khokha, a small port near Hodeidah in western Yemen used by Indians to smuggle badly needed fuel supplies into the country, killing 20 Indians.
Bureau Report
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