Yemen : Over 120 Yemeni Fishermen Evacuated from Hanish Island After Deadly Strike

Al-Hodeidah — More than 120 Yemeni fishermen arrived in the coastal city of Al-Khokha, Al-Hodeidah province, on Friday after being evacuated from Hanish Island following a strike attributed to Houthi forces The attack left 6 fishermen injured and destroyed 12 boats.

Fuad Dobleh, head of the Fishermen’s Association in Al-Khokha, said the strike occurred around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, targeting vessels docked at a landing site near the island. 

He noted that over 120 fishermen were present at the time, many of whom support nearly 150 families. The destruction of the boats, he added, deprived several of their only source of income.

Dobleh warned that fishermen face growing risks at sea due to the spread of naval mines and repeated attacks blamed on the Houthis. These incidents have already resulted in casualties, disappearances, and the loss of boats in recent months. 

He urged the Yemeni government and Presidential Leadership Council to take urgent measures to secure fishing areas, coasts, and islands, and to protect workers in the sector from ongoing threats.

The latest strike underscores the mounting dangers for Yemen’s fishing communities in the Red Sea, where escalating violence not only jeopardizes lives but also the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on fishing.

Hanish Island and its surrounding waters hold strategic importance due to their location in the southern Red Sea, close to shipping routes leading to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors for global trade and energy.