French Navy Rescues Six Yemeni Fishermen After Week-Long Ordeal in Red Sea

Six Yemeni fishermen cheated death in the Red Sea after their boat broke down during a routine fishing trip, leaving them stranded for seven days. The group was rescued by a French Navy vessel in the southern Red Sea and later handed over to Yemeni authorities.

The Yemeni Coast Guard confirmed the fishermen’s safe return to the port of Aden following a coordinated international effort. In a statement, officials highlighted the operation as part of broader initiatives to "protect lives and bolster maritime security" through partnerships with global allies.

Local authorities in Al Hudaydah Governorate identified the survivors as residents of Al Khokha district. The rescued fishermen, retrieved on February 16, include:

    Qasim Suleiman Ahmed Mazjaji (boat captain)

    Hassan Thabit Ali Hussein

    Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed

    Dawood Salem Hassan Hadi

    Ali Abdullah Taha Zain

    Salem Salem Hassan Hadi

Yemeni fishermen increasingly grapple with perilous conditions in the Red Sea, where harsh weather, deteriorating security, and regional instability compound risks to maritime livelihoods.