The Indian Navy announced the successful rescue of over 100 individuals, including 27 Pakistanis and 30 Iranians, in various anti-piracy operations. These efforts, part of Operation Sankalp and other missions in the Arabian Sea, also involved responding to 13 attack incidents to save a total of 110 lives, including 45 Indians and 65 international citizens. The Navy has deployed 10 warships and surveillance aircraft to counter piracy and drone threats, ensuring the safety of Indian and international cargo traffic in the region.
Indian Navy captured 35 Somali pirates who had hijacked a bulk carrier and taken hostages. The pirates were brought to Mumbai on INS Kolkata after a major operation that involved marine commandos being para-dropped from an aircraft and exchanges of gunfire. The pirates had used the hijacked ship as a "mother pirate ship" to launch attacks on other commercial ships. The Navy acted in self-defense, disabling the pirates ship and compelling their surrender.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar vows further naval interventions against piracy, emphasizing the need for sustained operations to ensure safety and stability in the oceans. Operation Sankalp, targeting anti-piracy, anti-missile, and anti-drone attacks, has been active for 100 days in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea. The Navy Chief noted the activeness of Houthi rebels targeting vessels with linkages to Israel and the UK, emphasizing the safety of Indian crew on these ships.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) accomplished a significant milestone by airdropping an indigenously developed heavy platform from a C-17 transport aircraft in Agra. This marks the first successful airdrop of a platform measuring 24 feet by eight feet, capable of carrying a load of up to 16 tonnes. Conducted in collaboration with the Indian Army and Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), the trials were executed in three stages, ensuring inspection, loading checks, and successful airdrop over a designated zone.