Pakistan Accuses Houthis of Holding Gas Tanker Crew “Hostage” Following Israeli Attack West of Yemen
Yemen Monitor/Islamabad/Exclusive:
The Pakistani government, through its Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, affirmed that the Houthi group held the crew of an international liquefied gas tanker “hostage” at Ras Isa port in western Yemen, after the vessel was targeted by an Israeli drone attack.
The Minister announced the success of the efforts in a statement published on his official account on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, confirming that “the tanker and its crew have been released by the Houthis and are now outside Yemeni waters,” without disclosing details of the negotiations or the mediators who secured the release of the sailors.
These statements are the first official disclosure of a ship being attacked by unclaimed Israeli drones in Yemen, which the Houthis have kept silent about, reflecting the increasing complexity of navigation in the Red Sea.
Yemen Monitor had previously published details of the attacks on Ras Isa port and the burning of the tanker, which was carrying Iranian oil and was on the US sanctions list; a number of operators and tanker drivers were killed in the Israeli attacks.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi revealed the dramatic sequence of events that occurred on September 17, where the tanker “Clipper” was anchored at Ras Isa port, which is controlled by the Houthi group.
The tanker, carrying 27 sailors—including 24 Pakistanis, two Sri Lankans, and one Nepali—was struck by an “Israeli” drone.
Naqvi confirmed that “Houthi boats intercepted the ship following the attack and held the crew hostage on board,” noting that the operation almost threatened the safety of maritime navigation.
