Indian Navy commandos successfully rescue all Indians on board hijacked ship off Somalia coast

Indian Navy commandos successfully rescue all Indians on board hijacked ship off Somalia coast

INS Chennai, the Indian Navy’s warship, reached the hijacked vessel off Somalia coast and rescued all 15 Indians on Friday. The Indian Navy has confirmed the safe evacuation of all 21 crew members including 15 Indians. MV Lila Norfolk, the cargo ship with 15 Indian nationals onboard, was hijacked by pirates on Thursday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed. Earlier in the day, INS Chennai had issued a warning to pirates to abandon the hijacked vessel, defence officials say. Marine Commandos MARCOS carried out the rescue operations.

All 21 crew (including 15 Indians) onboard safely evacuated. Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers personnel. The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy, MPA of interception by Indian Naval…

Against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict, concerns are rising due to increased attacks by Houthi militants on merchant vessels in the Red Sea. The recent hijacking is part of a series of maritime incidents observed in these strategic waters in the past few weeks.

On December 23, the Liberian-flagged MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, suffered a drone attack off India’s west coast. Simultaneously, another commercial oil tanker heading to India was targeted by a suspected drone strike in the Southern Red Sea, also on the same day, carrying a team of 25 Indian crew members. Additionally, on December 14, pirates hijacked the Malta-flagged MV Ruen in a separate incident.