Indian Navy
India’s navy announced on Monday that it successfully freed an Iranian fishing vessel, the Iman, which had been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The incident raised concerns about a potential resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean.
The Iranian-flagged vessel was boarded by pirates, who took the crew hostage. In response to a distress message, India deployed its warship INS Sumitra, patrolling in the Gulf of Aden, to intercept the hijacked vessel. The navy coerced the hijackers to release the 17 crew members and the fishing boat. The exact location of the operation was not disclosed, and details about the fate of the pirates were not provided.
The hijacking off Somalia added to worries about increased attacks in the Indian Ocean, including those by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Houthi rebels have carried out numerous attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting vessels linked to Israel in response to Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza.
International naval forces have been redirected north from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea, potentially creating a security gap that pirates could exploit. Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 but declined after international navies and commercial shipping deployed measures such as armed guards.
However, a recent successful hijacking in December marked the first case of Somali piracy since 2017. The situation remains uncertain, with concerns about the possibility of “piracy of opportunity” arising from a shift in military focus to the Red Sea.
India, which has maintained a naval presence off Somalia since 2008, increased its force in December to deter shipping attacks. Notably, it has not joined the US-led maritime task force in the Red Sea aimed at protecting international shipping from Houthi rebel attacks.
Recent incidents include an unsuccessful hijacking attempt on the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk by Indian navy commandos in the Arabian Sea on January 5.
Additionally, on Saturday, suspected Somali pirates hijacked the Sri Lankan fishing trawler Lorenzo Putha-4 with six crew members about 840 nautical miles southeast of Mogadishu. Last month, Somali pirates hijacked the Bulgaria-owned and Malta-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen, taking it and the 17 crew members to Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland. One injured sailor was released into the care of the Indian navy during that incident.
I am a dynamic professional, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies, Conflict Management and Resolution, and International Relations. My expertise is particularly focused on South Asian Conflicts and the intricacies of the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific Politics. With my skills as a Content Writer, I serve as a bridge between academia and the public, translating complex global issues into accessible narratives. My passion for fostering understanding and cooperation on the national and international stage drives me to make meaningful contributions to peace and global discourse.
