Pakistani Crew Safe After LPG Tanker Held by Houthis in Yemen
Islamabad – A Pakistani-led LPG tanker, carrying 27 crew members, has been safely released after being held by Houthi forces off the coast of Yemen, officials confirmed.
According to Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Overseas Pakistanis, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, the tanker, which included 24 Pakistanis, 2 Sri Lankans, and 1 Nepali, was attacked by an Israeli drone while docked at Ras al-Esa port on September 17, 2025. One of the LPG tanks on board exploded, but the crew successfully extinguished the fire. Soon after, Houthi boats intercepted the vessel, detaining the crew on board.
“I am profoundly grateful to Secretary Interior Khurram Agha, Ambassador Naveed Bokhari and his team in Oman, our colleagues in Saudi Arabia, and the officials of our security agencies who worked tirelessly to secure the safe release of our citizens,” Naqvi said in a statement on X. “Alhamdulillah, the tanker and its crew have now been released and are out of Yemeni waters. Pakistan Hamesha Zindabad.”
The Foreign Office confirmed that the tanker departed the port on Saturday, with all crew members safe. Following the incident, Pakistani embassies in the region established immediate contact with local authorities to ensure the well-being of the crew and coordinated efforts to get the tanker underway again. Families of the Pakistani crew were also kept informed throughout the ordeal.
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