A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker carrying 27 crew members, including 24 Pakistanis, was released by Houthi forces after being held hostage following an Israeli drone strike at Yemen’s Ras Isa port earlier this month.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on September 27 that the LPG tanker was attacked on September 17 while docked at Ras Isa, a port under Houthi control.

The strike caused one of the vessel’s LPG tanks to explode, triggering a fire on board. The crew managed to control the blaze, but the vessel was later intercepted by Houthi boats and the crew was taken hostage.

Pakistani media outlets, reported another version of the incident in which the crew initially abandoned the vessel but were forced by the Houthis to reboard while the ship was still burning. Crew members told the media that firefighting equipment on board was insufficient, and that they faced shortages of food and water during their detention.

The crew comprised 24 Pakistani nationals, including the captain, along with two Sri Lankans and one Nepali. Following coordinated diplomatic intervention by Pakistan’s ambassador to Oman, the government of Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan’s security agencies, the crew was released and safely removed from Houthi-controlled territory.

Interior Minister Naqvi said officials worked “day and night under extraordinary conditions to secure the safe release” of the crew. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Interior, diplomatic staff in Oman, Saudi Arabian authorities, and security agencies for their efforts.

🚨 Unconfirmed reports: LPG vessel near Ras Isa, Yemen allegedly hit by a drone on Sept 17. Crew onboard faces life-threatening gas leak, low food & water, anchored in dangerous zone. Urgent maritime security concern. ⚠️🚢🔥 #maritimesecurity #maritimesafety #RedSea pic.twitter.com/rOtZFJdrB4

— MarScope (@MarScopeAdvisor) September 26, 2025

The Pakistani Foreign Office also released a statement confirming that embassies had engaged with Yemeni authorities to ensure crew welfare and kept families informed throughout the crisis. Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that efforts were made to get the tanker underway again, and confirmed that the vessel and its crew had left Yemeni waters safely.

While the tanker’s name was not officially released, Pakistani media identified it as the Clipper, a 1995-built LPG carrier formerly known as Eagle Pride. Ownership details remain unclear, but the ship was reportedly sold in 2023 to an undisclosed party. U.S. OFAC listings indicate the vessel is subject to counterterrorism sanctions.

AIS tracking data from Pole Star Global showed that the tanker departed Djibouti on September 4 and arrived at Ras Isa port on September 6. The strike on September 17 came a day after a large-scale Israeli raid on Hodeidah, the main Houthi-controlled seaport. That operation reportedly damaged several berths and vessels and destroyed much of the remaining wharf infrastructure.

Houthi-controlled Al Masirah TV reported that twelve Israeli strikes targeted docks in Ras Isa, damaging three berths. Before the attack, only berths 4, 6, and 8 were in use after being repaired from earlier strikes; these were hit again during the latest operation.

References: TOI, firstpost

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