The Indian navy rescued an Iranian fishing boat hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The warship INS Sumitra intercepted the vessel and successfully coerced the hijackers to release the 17 crew members and the boat. This comes amid fears of resurgent piracy in the region due to the redirection of international naval forces.
NEW DELHI: India’s navy said Monday it had freed an Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia following the latest attack against shipping in the Indian Ocean.
“The fishing vessel had been boarded by pirates and the crew taken as hostages,” Indian navy spokesman Commander Vivek Madhwal said, naming the vessel as the Iranian-flagged Iman, adding its warship had “ensured the successful release of all 17 crew members along with the boat.”
Madhwal said India had deployed its warship INS Sumitra — which was on anti-piracy patrol off the east coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden — after receiving a distress message from the fishing vessel.
The warship “intercepted the vessel” and then worked to “coerce” the hijackers to release the crew and boat, official said, without giving an exact location.
The fishing boat was “sanitised and released for onward transit”, the navy said, without giving further details of the operation or the fate of the pirates.
International naval forces have been diverted north from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea after Houthi attacks, sparking fears of resurgent pirates exploiting the gap, with the first successful case of Somali piracy since 2017 recorded in December.
Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 — with the gunmen launching attacks as far as 3,655 kilometres (2,270 miles) from the Somali coast in the Indian Ocean — before falling off sharply in recent years.
On Saturday, suspected Somali pirates boarded and hijacked the Sri Lankan fishing trawler Lorenzo Putha–4 with six crew, some 840 nautical miles southeast of the Somali capital Mogadishu, the Sri Lankan navy said.
In a courageous display of maritime security, the Indian Navy successfully freed an Iranian fishing boat that had been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The swift and decisive action of the Indian Navy not only exemplifies their commitment to securing the waters of the Indian Ocean but also highlights the global cooperation necessary in combating piracy. The rescue operation, conducted with precision and strategic coordination, serves as a testament to the capabilities and professionalism of the Indian Navy. This successful mission underscores the critical role of naval forces in safeguarding international waters and promoting stability in the region. The collaborative efforts of navies from different nations, united in the common goal of maritime security, continue to be essential in protecting seafarers and maritime trade from the threat of piracy. The Indian Navy’s commendable rescue of the Iranian fishing boat sends a powerful message of solidarity and determination in the face of maritime threats, and reaffirms the shared responsibility of nations in ensuring the safety and security of the seas.
Source: ARY NEWS
Indian navy successfully freed an Iranian fishing vessel, Iman, hijacked by pirates off Somalia. The vessel and its 17 crew members were rescued by the INS Sumitra warship in the Gulf of Aden. This incident comes amid concerns of a resurgence in piracy due to the diversion of international naval forces following Houthi attacks. Notably, the first successful case of Somali piracy since 2017 occurred in December. Another recent hijacking involved the Sri Lankan fishing trawler Lorenzo Putha-4. These incidents highlight the ongoing threat of piracy in the region.
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