The Indian Navy has rescued an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates and freed its 19-member Pakistani crew off the east coast of Somalia, The National News reports.
The incident comes 36 hours after the same Indian ship rescued another Iranian fishing vessel from pirates.
INS Sumitra intercepted the Iranian-flagged vessel Al Naeemi, which was hijacked by 11 Somali pirates who took its 19-member crew – all from Pakistan – hostage. The Navy said:
“Responding swiftly to the developing situation, Sumitra intercepted the FV on January 29 and through coercive posturing and effective deployment of her integral helicopter and boats, compelled the safe release of the crew and the vessel.”
Global shipping routes have been disrupted by tensions in the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthi rebels have vowed to continue attacks on merchant ships in retaliation for Israel’s war on Gaza.
The US has set up Operation Prosperity Guardian to counter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, through which about 12 per cent of world trade passes.
India is not involved in the initiative, but its navy has responded to increasing attempts to hijack ships by pirates off the Somali coast.
In early January, Indian Navy commandos boarded the Liberian-flagged merchant ship Lila Norfolk after it was ambushed by pirates off the coast of Somalia. All crew members were rescued.
