After deploying over a dozen frontline warships in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy has now carried out “airborne insertion” of Special Forces – Marcos from C-130 aircraft in the region in response to persistent attacks by Houthi rebels and Somali pirates.
In response to ongoing #MaritimeSecurity situation in #GulfofAden & #ArabianSea & to ensure prompt action against any maritime threat, #IndianNavy undertook airborne insertion of #SpecialForces, paradropping inflatable crafts & #MARCOs from C-130 in #ArabianSea.@IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/0RSfz8Z4BW
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 26, 2024
“In response to the ongoing maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea and to ensure prompt action against any maritime threats, the Indian Navy undertook airborne insertion of Special Forces. This involved para dropping inflatable crafts and Marcos from a C-130 aircraft in the Arabian Sea for continued Anti-Piracy Operations in the region,” stated the Navy in a statement on Monday. The Navy emphasised its unwavering commitment to the safety and security of merchant shipping and seafarers in the area.
Since December 2023, amid Houthi rebels targeting commercial ships with missiles in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, causing a resurgence in pirate activities against commercial vessels, the Indian Navy has significantly bolstered its presence from the Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
All Indian mission deployed warships in the region have departments of Marcos on board. The insertion of additional Marcos, with their weapons and specialized equipment, will further augment overall anti-piracy operations. This exercise comes after the Indian Navy’s destroyer rescued a cargo vessel that had caught fire after being hit by a drone or missile attack in the Gulf of Aden last Thursday.
Speaking with BharatShakti during the ongoing multinational naval exercise ‘Milan 2024’ in Vishakhapatnam, Admiral R Hari Kumar, the Chief of Naval Staff, expressed optimism that the occurrences of piracy would decrease in the upcoming days, attributing it to the proactive measures taken by the Indian Navy in the region.
Ravi Shankar
