By ABDULLAH A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker carrying 27 crew members, including 24 Pakistanis, came under attack earlier this month when an Israeli drone struck the vessel at Yemen’s Ras al-Esa port. Despite the explosion and fire on board, all Pakistani sailors were later confirmed safe, Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday.
According to Naqvi, the incident occurred on September 17, 2025, while the tanker was docked at Ras al-Esa, an area under the control of Yemen’s Houthi militia. The drone strike ignited a fire after one LPG tank exploded. The crew, led by Captain Mukhtar Akbar himself a Pakistani managed to contain the blaze.
However, soon after, Houthi boats intercepted the tanker. The 27-member crew 24 Pakistanis, two Sri Lankans, and one Nepali were held hostage aboard the vessel.
Naqvi praised the combined efforts of Pakistan’s diplomatic and security channels, crediting Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, Ambassador Naveed Bokhari and his team in Oman, officials in Saudi Arabia, and security agencies.
He stated on X (formerly Twitter):
“Alhamdulillah, the tanker and its crew have now been released by the Houthis and are out of Yemeni waters. Our officers worked day and night under extraordinary conditions to secure the release of our citizens when hope was fading.”
The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed that all 24 Pakistanis were “safe and unharmed” and that the tanker had resumed its journey out of Yemeni waters. The FO also said that Pakistan’s embassies remained in touch with Yemeni authorities and regularly updated the crew’s families.
The Red Sea has increasingly become a flashpoint for geopolitical conflict. The waterway connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal and is vital for global trade.
Houthi militias, backed by Iran, have carried out repeated attacks on commercial shipping, claiming retaliation for Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. In response, Israel has intensified strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
Diplomatic sources told media outlets that the tanker was traveling from Iran to Yemen when the drone hit. The crew had to be temporarily evacuated before returning to extinguish the fire.
This latest incident highlights the growing risks for commercial shipping in conflict zones. Dozens of vessels have been targeted in the Red Sea in the past year, disrupting trade and endangering international crews.
For Pakistan, the safety of its 24 nationals has become a matter of relief, but the incident underlines broader concerns. Many Pakistani seafarers work aboard international shipping vessels, often in dangerous waters.
The drone strike on the tanker is part of a wider pattern of spillover violence from the Gaza war. Since October 2023, Israel and the Houthis have exchanged drone and missile attacks. While Houthis claim solidarity with Palestinians, Israel says it is defending shipping routes and countering Iranian influence in the region.
So far, the conflict has killed tens of thousands in Gaza and drawn in multiple regional players, making maritime security a pressing issue for the global economy.
Pakistan’s government has emphasized its commitment to protecting its citizens abroad. Naqvi’s statement highlighted not only the safe evacuation but also the behind-the-scenes diplomacy that secured the crew’s release.
The FO reiterated:
“On receiving the news about the incident, the concerned embassies established contacts with the authorities in Yemen to ensure the well-being of the crew. Diplomatic missions also remained in contact with the families of Pakistani crew members.”
While the 24 Pakistanis aboard the ill-fated tanker are safe, the incident is a stark reminder of how regional conflicts can endanger innocent lives far from the battlefield. It also raises urgent questions about the safety of shipping routes that Pakistan, like many other countries, depends on for trade and employment of its citizens.
For now, the crew’s safe return offers relief but the volatility of the Red Sea remains a looming challenge for global maritime security.