Indian navy in high seas standoff with Somali pirates - DW - 03/16/2024
Indian navy warship intercepts hijacked bulk carrier off Somalia's coast in escalating situation with Somali pirates leading to concerns of potential attacks in international waters.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
An Indian navy warship intercepted a hijacked bulk carrier off the coast of Somalia, demanding that the pirates surrender. The ship, Ruen, was hijacked by Somali pirates in December, and the situation escalated when pirates aboard the Ruen opened fire on the Indian warship. Despite calls to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians on board, the hijackers still control the Ruen with around 18 crew members. Concerns rise as the hijacked ship has moved into international waters, potentially to be used for further attacks. The reemergence of Somali piracy coincides with attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels targeting ships in the Red Sea, affecting traffic to the Suez Canal. Somali piracy had decreased in recent years due to patrols by US and allied naval forces after peaking between 2010 and 2015.