Twenty-two Indian nationals, including 14 seafarers, died in the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday. Three Indians also got killed in Saudi Arabia. “We are deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in West Asia,” said spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, as attacks threaten regional maritime trade.
NEW DELHI: Twenty-two Indian nationals, including 14 seafarers, have been killed in the ongoing West Asia conflict, with three Indian deaths reported in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday as attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping routes raise concerns over regional security and maritime trade.
“We are deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in West Asia. We have lost 22 Indian nationals in the conflict, including 14 seafarers,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“We remain in close touch with our community in the Gulf region for their safety and well-being. Three Indians have lost their lives in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
India has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict, which began in February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
New Delhi has also voiced concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure and economic assets, warning that further escalation threatens regional stability and freedom of navigation.
The latest concerns follow attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, including a strike on the kingdom’s East-West oil pipeline, a critical route for transporting crude to export terminals on the Red Sea. The pipeline has become particularly important as disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have complicated regional oil exports.
The attacks have also heightened concerns about the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, a strategic maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
Disruption to either route could affect global energy supplies, commercial shipping, and seafarers operating in the region.
The safety of Indian maritime workers is a particular concern given the country’s significant presence in the global shipping industry. According to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, India has 311,936 maritime professionals, accounting for 12.16% of the global seafarer workforce and ranking second worldwide.
Indian officers, numbering 140,718, represent 13.41% of the global officer workforce. Their presence across international merchant fleets makes the security of commercial shipping routes a direct concern for India.
India and Liberia launched a 25-nation Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026. The initiative seeks to strengthen international cooperation in protecting merchant vessels and their crews against targeted attacks.