The Indian Navy said on Wednesday (January 6) that it has maintained its deployment of frontline destroyers and frigates in the central and north Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden for the safety of Indian merchant vessels.
"The Indian Navy continues to monitor (the) maritime security situation in the North/Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. Indian Naval ships and aircraft remain mission deployed for maintaining enhanced surveillance and undertaking maritime security operations," it said in a statement.
"In the last one-week, Indian Naval Task Groups deployed in the area have investigated a large number of fishing vessels and boarded vessels of interest," the Indian Navy added.
The Navy has augmented its force levels in the region to undertake maritime security operations in view of recent attacks on commercial vessels in key shipping lanes. The additional deployment of the assets include long-range maritime patrol aircraft. Indian Naval maritime patrol aircraft and RPAs are undertaking continuous surveillance over the area.
The Navy's decision comes amid increasing global concerns over the Houthi militants targeting various cargo vessels in the Red Sea region. Houthis, a group which enjoy a strong presence in war-scarred Yemen, especially the coastal regions of the country, launched a drone attack on commercial vessel MV Chem Pluto.
The attack was conducted just around 220 nautical miles southwest of Porbandar and indicated a shift in maritime incidents closer to India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). For the very reason, the Navy is now coordinating with the Coast Guard to maintain enhanced surveillance within the EEZ.
"IMAC and IFC IOR have been closely monitoring white shipping, especially the Indian Flagged Merchant Vessels plying in the area. The Indian Navy is also coordinating with the Coast Guard for maintaining enhanced surveillance within the EEZ," the Navy elaborated.
