Achi news desk-
Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday that piracy had “resurfaced as an industry” in the wake of the Israel-Hamas standoff in the maritime zone, even as he stressed that “no Indian-flagged ship” has ‘to be targeted by the Houthis at sea. Gaza has suffered the most from this conflict which started last October.
Many cargo ships have been attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and the surrounding region in the last few months. The Indian Navy said on Saturday that it has “responded to the emergence of Israel-Hamas conflict in the maritime zone by redirecting and significantly enhancing the scope of its ongoing maritime security operations since mid-December last year”.
The navy took proactive steps during the hijacking of the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen on December 14. Recently, a dramatic mid-sea operation by the Indian Navy along with the IAF ended the three-month hijacking of the bulk carrier with the deployment of its warship INS Kolkata, long-endurance Sea Guardian drones, P-8I surveillance aircraft and the drop of elite MARCOS commandos from a C-17 aircraft.
Admiral Kumar addressed a press conference earlier in the day to mark the completion of 100 days of the ongoing maritime security operations under the phase two wing of ‘Op Sankalp’ which includes anti-drone, anti-missile and anti-sea operations -theft.
“The 100 days of continuous ‘Op Sankalp’ has also broken the myth of short and quick operations. Therefore, we need to realize that we need to be able to carry on with continuous operations if we need to ensure that we need safety, security and stability in the oceans,” he said. The speed of the operations has been quite high, said the head of the nave.
“Since yesterday, we had 11 submarines operating at sea at the same time, we have more than 35 ships operating at sea, more than five aircraft deployed in different parts of the Indian Ocean. We ensure that our assets are used in the best possible way to ensure that it covers areas of interest. And, gives us the best information so that the maritime zone awareness and the required level of transparency are achieved,” he added.
He said that anti-piracy action at sea was taken by the Indian Navy in 2008 as well. It had “diminished gradually” with a situation of almost a lull between 2018 and almost October 2023.
“In October, we saw the Israel-Hamas war start suddenly and then the attack of the Houthis started… And a kind of chaos happened in the Red Sea. I think, there were people who took advantage of this opportunity to go into piracy. And, that’s how I would say that this piracy has resurfaced as an industry, I would say, to profit and benefit from the chaos that is happening in that area,” added the head of the Navy. “We are determined that we will not allow it and that is why we are taking positive action,” he asserted.
The first phase of Op Sankalp began in 2019. That was essentially to provide protection to ships coming out of the Persian Gulf, because there had been some attack on ships there. “And, we maintained this with the presence of only one ship continuously.”
“After we received information about ships being targeted by drones, missiles and pirates, we then renewed this ‘Op Sankalp’ into part two starting in mid-December,” said the Navy chief. . The Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden to the northern Arabian Sea and the sea off the east coast of Somalia, this is the area where “we operate, have used these ships,” he said.
“Therefore, the task is to ensure that there is safety, security and stability, so that our merchant ships carrying essential requirements reach the shores safely. And, in order to speed up the response to meet the expectation of being the ‘first responder’,” he said.
When asked how long these operations will continue, he said, “Until the Indian Ocean Region is safe”. “There is no time limit you can put on it, but we will ensure that we are deployed there and we will take positive, proactive and affirmative steps to ensure that the region is secure,” said Admiral Kumar.
To a query whether any Indian ship has been targeted or is coming close to being targeted by Houthis at sea, he said, “No Indian-flagged ship” has been targeted by them. Houthis have been targeting any ship with “connections to Israel, either owned by Israel or flagged by Israel, or going to Israel or any connections with Israeli business houses. Those have been their targets,” the Navy chief told reporters.
They have also been targeting some of the ships that are flagged with western countries, he said. “We’re interested in it because almost all of these ships have an Indian crew on board. Our national interests also extend to our personnel around the world. So if any of the ships are targeted, we try to help them, save them, provide support. We do not only for our nationals but any vessel in distress, as required by the law of the seas,” the admiral said.
He said a large number of companies had started to “reroute the ships” around the Cape of Good Hope. “And an impact will be felt on us. So, we decided to take proactive steps and escort ships and make sure you are safe when you come through the Red Sea,” the Navy chief said.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from the feed of a syndicated news agency – PTI)
