In a significant development, Indian Defence authorities said that the Navy cruiser INS Sumitra is rescuing fishermen seized by Somali pirates 700 nautical miles west of Kochi in the Arabian Sea, news agency ANI reported. Somali pirates hijacked the Iranian fishing vessel MV Iman, which was carrying around 17 crew members.
As the rescue operations are under way, India on Sunday, vowed to aid in the rescue of six Sri Lankan fishermen seized by the Somali pirates.
The incident is the latest in a string of drone and pirate attacks on commerce ships in the region, which includes the Red Sea and portions of the Arabian Sea.
ALSO READ | Gyanvapi Dispute: Plea Filed In Supreme Court Seeking ASI Survey Of 'Wuzukhana' Area
In response to recent attacks on India-bound cargo boats, the Indian navy has significantly increased surveillance in the problematic region and deployed task groups of around ten warships.
Iran-backed Yemen's Houthi movement has recently used missiles and drones to attack commercial vessels in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7. The Houthi rebels announced their support for Hamas. Following the assaults, several maritime firms have ceased operations in the Red Sea, forcing seafarers to shift course and take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.
On Saturday, India's guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel that caught fire after a missile attack by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden, highlighting the deteriorating security situation on one of the world's busiest shipping routes, according to officials familiar with the matter, HT reported.