MUMBAI (Diya TV) — The Indian Navy executed a daring rescue mission to save a commercial vessel from pirates off Somalia’s coast last weekend. Analysts laud this as evidence of Delhi’s military achieving special forces being on par with the world’s finest.
The navy’s swift action resulted in the safe retrieval of 17 crew members from the vessel MV Ruen during a anti-piracy operation spanning nearly two days, as per an Indian Navy news release. Remarkably, no casualties were reported, and dozens of pirates were apprehended.
The operation involved a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 transporter covering over 1,500 miles to drop marine commandos, alongside naval and reconnaissance drones, as well as a P-8 surveillance jet.
“This operation underscores the Indian Navy’s excellence in training, command, and control, among other capabilities,” remarked John Bradford, a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs fellow. “What’s truly impressive is the coordinated use of various assets, minimizing risks.”
Experts express concerns over the volatile security landscape in the Red Sea, with attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels posing a threat to commercial shipping, potentially providing opportunities for Somali pirates in the nearby Horn of Africa. Yemen and Somalia, both strife-ridden nations, face the brunt of civil unrest.
The recent hijacking of MV Ruen by Somali pirates last December marked the first successful such incident off the country’s coast since 2017. Despite being tracked by Spanish, Japanese, and Indian warships, the vessel managed to evade capture until its departure from Somali waters last week, intending to engage in piracy on the high seas.
The Indian Navy intercepted the vessel, with the destroyer INS Kolkata confirming armed pirate activity onboard using a ship-launched drone. Following a series of hostile actions by the pirates, including the destruction of the drone and firing upon the Indian warship, the Kolkata disabled Ruen’s steering and navigation.
Amidst the escalating confrontation, Indian Air Force commandos parachuted into the scene after a 10-hour flight from India, with rafts dropped from the transport aircraft to facilitate marine access to Ruen. Overwhelmed by the Indian display of force, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered.
Bulgarian leaders, including President Rumen Radev, extended gratitude to India and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the operation, acknowledging the bravery displayed in rescuing the hijacked ship and its crew.
