The Indian Navy cruiser INS Sumitra, working with Somali pirates, saved the captured fishing vessel Al Naemi approximately 800 miles off the coast of Kochi. This was disclosed by Indian Defense sources. 19 Pakistani nationals were successfully rescued on Monday by the Al Naemi as it was cruising off the east coast of Somalia.
In a 24-hour period, the Indian Navy conducted two rescue operations. This one was the second. While conducting anti-piracy operations around the east coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden on Monday, the Indian Navy rescued the FV Iman, another fishing vessel flying the Iranian flag, from Somali pirates. The crew of 17 people was on board. The effort to safely rescue the fishing boat's crew involved the participation of the Marine Commandos of the Indian Navy. Warships from the Indian Navy are stationed around the Indian Ocean region to ensure local security and safety, according to Indian Defense officials.
The Indian Navy said that the cruiser INS Sumitra saved the hostages of 19 Pakistani nationals on board the fishing vessel after it was intercepted by pirates and action was taken to locate the stricken vessel. The hijackings off the coast of Somalia, which coincide with an increase in strikes by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are supported by Iran, have raised fears about a return of opportunistic pirates conducting raids in the Indian Ocean.
In retaliation for Israel's battle against the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in Gaza, Houthi gunmen have undertaken many attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, focusing on vessels with connections to Israel. With the first successful instance of Somali piracy since 2017, international naval troops have been shifted north from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea, raising concerns that pirates would take advantage of the security void. This was noted in December.
The number of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia peaked in 2011 when gunmen launched assaults up to 3,655 kilometers (2,270 miles) into the Indian Ocean. However, the attacks thereafter significantly decreased when warships from other militaries and armed guards were stationed by commercial vessels.
