Indian Navy's INS Sumitra rescues Iranian-flagged vessel hijacked by Somalian pirates

Responding to a distress call, the Indian Navy's INS Sumitra successfully saved an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, which was hijacked by the Somalian pirates. Navy officials on January 29 said that INS Sumatra's swift response ensured the safe release of all 17 crew and the ship on the Somalian east coast.

The vessel was subsequently sanitised and released for onward transit.

"INS Sumitra, on anti-piracy operations along the East Coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, responded to a distress message regarding hijacking of an Iranian-flagged Fishing Vessel Iman. The vessel had been boarded by pirates and the crew was taken as hostages," Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said, according to PTI news agency.

The spokesperson further said that the rescue operation was carried out in accordance with the established SOPs to coerce the pirates for the safe release of the crew along with the boat.

Recently, the Indian Navy strengthened its surveillance in response to a series of attacks along the Arabian Sea and its adjacent areas.

Commercial vessels bearing Israel and US, UK flags traversing through the Red Sea have been increasingly coming under attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict that started began on October 7.