World · India Bureau
India expresses concern over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
New Delhi has voiced alarm over recent Houthi militant attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, warning that such strikes pose a significant risk to maritime navigation through the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
LSN India ·
India has issued a statement expressing concern over the escalating attacks by Houthi militants on Saudi Arabian targets, citing implications for international shipping in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
The Indian government has flagged concerns that the attacks threaten free passage of vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The strait serves as a crucial shipping corridor for global trade, with hundreds of merchant vessels transiting daily between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
New Delhi's statement reflects India's significant stake in maintaining stable maritime conditions in the region, given the country's reliance on Middle Eastern energy imports and its extensive commercial shipping interests. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait represents one of the world's most important sea lanes for international commerce.
The Houthi militant group, based in Yemen, has periodically launched attacks on Saudi targets and regional shipping in recent years. India's concern highlights how regional conflicts in the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula can have direct consequences for trade routes serving South and Southeast Asia.