The Foreign Office earlier assured that all Pakistanis onboard were safe and were moving out of Yemeni waters. However, Naqvi later revealed on X that the strike took place on September 17 while the vessel was docked at the port controlled by Houthi rebels.
Israel has been carrying out repeated strikes on Houthi positions during the ongoing Gaza conflict. The Iran-backed Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Israel and Red Sea shipping lanes, claiming support for the Palestinian cause.
According to Naqvi, the LPG tanker’s crew included 24 Pakistanis, two Sri Lankans, and one Nepali. The captain of the vessel was also a Pakistani. An LPG tanker with 27 crew members (24 Pakistanis, including Captain Mukhtar Akbar; 2 Sri Lankans; 1 Nepali) was attacked by an Israeli drone while docked at Ras al-Esa port (under Houthi control) on 17 September 2025. One LPG tank exploded and the crew managed to extinguish the…
He added that an LPG tank on the vessel exploded during the attack, but the crew acted quickly and managed to extinguish the fire, preventing a bigger disaster.
This incident highlights how Pakistanis are getting caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts. The survival of the crew shows their bravery under extreme pressure. But the attack also raises concerns about the safety of Pakistani workers in conflict zones and the growing risks for global shipping routes amid the Israel-Houthi clashes.
Read more: FO clarifies controversy over ‘Israeli supporter’ Dr Shama Junejo’s presence at UNGA
He said, “The vessel was subsequently stopped by Houthi boats and the crew were held hostage aboard the ship. He added that the tanker and its crew “have now been released by the Houthis and are out of Yemeni waters”.
The interior minister said he was “profoundly grateful to Secretary Interior Khurram Agha and other MOI (Ministry of Interior) officers, Ambassador Naveed Bokhari and his team in Oman, our colleagues in Saudi Arabia, and especially the officials of our security agencies who worked day and night under extraordinary conditions to secure the safe release of our citizens when hope was fading”.
The FO earlier stated that 24 Pakistani nationals aboard the vessel were safe and sound and making their way out of Yemeni waters.
The tanker had caught fire off the coast of Yemen on September 17, adding that upon receiving the news about the incident, the relevant Pakistan embassies had established contacts with the authorities in Yemen to ensure the well-being of the crew, it said.
The office said, “Efforts were made to set the tanker underway again.”
“Today, the LPG tanker has departed [from the] port and is making [its] way out of Yemeni waters. The entire crew, including Pakistani nationals, on board is safe and sound,” it said.
