Saturday February 3, 2024
FV Omari had been boarded by seven pirates, who had taken the crew as hostages. (X/@indiannavy)
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Indian Navy recently foiled a piracy attempt on the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel FV Omari off the East coast of Somalia.
According to the Indian navy, Responding to intelligence gathered on January 31 by a Naval Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA), which detected suspicious activity around FV Omari, the warship INS Sharda was redirected to engage the pirates. By deploying its helicopter and boats, the navy successfully negotiated the release of 19 crew members—11 Iranian and eight Pakistani nationals—held hostage by seven pirates. The operation concluded with a boarding of FV Omari to secure the vessel and ensure the crew's well-being.
The incident marks the latest in a series of interventions by the Indian Navy aimed at addressing piracy off the Somali coast. Earlier in the week, the Indian navy had conducted similar operations, rescuing crews from two other fishing vessels, Iman and Al Naeemi, and saving a total of 36 individuals from pirate captivity.
The resurgence of piracy in the area has drawn international attention, necessitating a reassessment of naval deployment and anti-piracy measures.
On Friday, India's defence ministry said that naval units are being deployed in Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden, the eastern coast of Somalia, and in the North and Central Arabian Sea to protect cargo ships.