Indian naval forces, including special commandos, executed an operation to seize a cargo vessel hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing 17 crew members, as confirmed by a navy spokesperson on Saturday.
According to a statement released on the social media platform X by the navy, all 35 pirates aboard the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel Ruen surrendered peacefully. Following the operation, the vessel underwent thorough inspection to ensure no illegal arms, ammunition, or contraband were present.
The Ruen had fallen victim to hijacking last year, and the Indian navy intercepted the vessel on Friday in a swift response to the crisis.
The European Union naval force suggested that the Ruen might have served as the base for the recent takeover of a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia earlier in the week.
This successful seizure marks the first instance of Somali pirates hijacking a vessel since 2017, when international naval forces cracked down on piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Somali pirates, who once plagued vital global waterways for a decade, had remained relatively dormant until a resurgence of attacks late last year.
In response to the escalating threat, India has deployed at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea to combat piracy, while Western powers have shifted their focus towards countering attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
Indian officials had previously reported at least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking, and suspicious approaches by pirates since December 1, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by maritime security forces in the region.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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