Indian Navy Commandos Foil Hijack Attempt on Liberian-flagged Vessel near Somalia; New Delhi Vows Enhanced Regional Maritime Security. In response to a series of recent maritime attacks, Indian forces swiftly intervened, preventing the hijackers from seizing control. The successful operation highlights India’s commitment to safeguarding maritime activities in the region, reinforcing its promise to uphold security and protect vessels from potential threats.
India’s navy said on Friday that it had saved 21 crew members from a ship in the Arabian Sea after it received an emergency call from a hijacked vessel. This is the latest attack on commercial shipping in the area.
The force sent several boats into the sea last month to “maintain a deterrent presence” after a string of recent attacks on ships, including an attack by a drone near India’s coast that the US blamed on Iran.
At the same time, many ships have been forced to change their routes from the Red Sea because of strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. These attacks were done to show support for the Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is fighting the Hamas terror group.
The Houthis have said that ships going to Israel “will become a legitimate target for our armed forces,” it doesn’t matter what flag they fly or who owns or runs them.
Asia is not a part of the US-led Red Sea task force that was set up last month to stop Houthi strikes in that area.
“Dedicated to making sure safety”
The Indian navy said that it “remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the region with the help of the United Nations and friendly foreign countries.”
The MV Chem Pluto ship was attacked by drones last month, about 200 nautical miles (370 km) off the coast of India.
Washington blamed Iran for the attack, but Iran’s foreign ministry said those claims were “worthless.”
It was the first time since the start of Israel’s war on Hamas, which is backed by Iran, that Washington specifically said Iran was attacking ships.
“War broke out following the Hamas terror group’s October 7 massacres, which saw some 3,000 terrorists burst across the border into Israel from Gaza, killing some 1,200 people and seizing over 240 prisoners, mostly civilians”.
In reaction, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a wide-scale military campaign in Gaza aimed at destroying the group’s military and governance powers.
An increase in risk on congested roads
Following the December hijacking of the bulk carrier MV Ruen by Somali pirates, India has increased its anti-piracy activities.
It was earlier this week that the navy announced that it had looked into a significant number of fishing vessels in the North and Central Arabian Sea and that it had boarded some that were considered to be “of interest.”
India serves as the region’s primary supplier of net security for the Indian Ocean. Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh declared last month that “we will ensure that maritime trade in this region rises from the sea to the heights of the sky.”
The Houthi rebels from Yemen, who are backed by Iran, are resurrecting Somali piracy as they target commercial ships in the Red Sea, obstructing traffic that is intended to enter the Suez Canal.
The number of Somali pirate attacks on ships peaked in 2010 and 2015, however since then, as a result of US and other allied naval patrols, the number of attacks has sharply decreased.
Experts assert that the US-led anti-piracy campaign has been redirected due to the increased focus on Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which has incentivized pirates to redouble their attacks.
rc/nm (AFP, Reuters, DPA)
