Indian Navy responds to an SOS call from a Merchant ship, The Gulf of Aden is a waterway in the Red Sea that also connects to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Over the past few weeks, Yemen-based Houthi rebels have continuously attacked merchant ships with missiles and drones in the Arabian Sea after the Israel and Hamas conflict which began on October 7, 2023.
Consequently, many shipping companies have suspended their operations in the Red Sea. Mariners are forced to change the course and take longer routes around the Southern tip of Africa.
This time Indian Navy responded to the SOS call from a Merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden after the Houthi Attack the navy sent INS Vishakhapatnam to help a burning vessel with 22 Indians and a Bangladeshi on board in Gulf of Aden.
Till now, authorities have confirmed no casualties, and the grave situation is under control.
Houthi attack: Indian Navy responds to an SOS call from a Merchant ship.
The British oil tanker MV Marlin Luanda was attacked by the Houthis on the night of January 26 around 7:45 pm (sanaa time). The tanker is carrying Russian Naphtha, a component of crude oil.
INS Visakhapatnam took the distress call of the merchant vessel Marlin Launda after it reported a missile hit. The vessel caught fire. Indian Navy responds to an SOS call from a Merchant ship after Houthi Attack, the Indian Navy sent INS Visakhapatnam to help firefighting on the cargo ship.
As per the request of MV Marlin Luanda, a team with firefighting equipment was deployed by INS Vishakhapatnam to render assistance to the crew towards augmenting firefighting efforts on board.
The fire in cargo ship is fully extinguished and all the crew on board the MV Marlin Luanda are completely safe. The vessel is finally moving towards the safe harbor according to the statement of commodity trader.
After Indian Navy responds to an SOS call from a Merchant ship, the US and UK Navy also handling with the situation.
The United States has also confirmed Houthi’s strike on MV Marlin Luanda.
#Houthi Rebels launch shocking attack on ship with 22 Indians, Indian Navy races against inferno pic.twitter.com/YYeZw0RNiI
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) January 27, 2024
What is Gulf of Aden?
The Gulf of Aden is a strategic waterway located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Somalia in the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Gulf of Aden is a crucial maritime route for international trade, particularly for shipping between Europe and the oil-producing countries of the Middle East and Asia.
Several important geopolitical and security issues are associated with the Gulf of Aden. One of the most notable challenges is piracy, particularly off the coast of Somalia. Pirate attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Gulf of Aden and the surrounding waters were a significant problem in the late 2000s and early 2010s. International naval patrols and increased security measures have since helped to reduce the frequency of such attacks.
Additionally, the Gulf of Aden has been a focal point for international naval operations aimed at countering terrorism and ensuring maritime security. Due to its strategic importance, the Gulf of Aden has also been a region of interest in the broader geopolitical context, with various countries and international organizations engaging in efforts to maintain stability and secure the maritime routes in the area.
Who are Houthis?
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are a rebel group based in Yemen. The group emerged in the early 2000s and gained prominence in the years following the 2011 Yemeni revolution and the ousting of then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Houthis belong to the Zaidi sect, a branch of Shia Islam, and they primarily inhabit the northern parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.
The conflict involving the Houthis escalated in 2014 when they took control of Sanaa and eventually forced the internationally recognized Yemeni government led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee. This led to a complex and multifaceted conflict involving various actors, including regional powers.
Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab states intervened in 2015 to support the Yemeni government and counter the Houthi rebellion. The conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, famine, and a breakdown of basic services.