Indian commandos recaptured a hijacked cargo ship off the coast of Somalia last week, rescuing 21 crew members.
The Liberian flagged MV Lila Norfolk was sailing 450 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia when it was boarded last Thursday by <a href="https://news.usni.org/2024/01/07/indian-navy-retakes-merchant-ship-from-armed-hijackers-in-the-arabian-sea">about a half dozen hijackers</a>. The vessel had a multinational crew of 15 Indians and 6 Fillipinos, who sheltered in the ship’s safe room and reportedly sustained no injuries. The Indian Navy’s Marine Commandos (sometimes called MARCOS) retook the vessel the following morning – the hijackers appear to have fled during the night, after the Indian Navy arrived.
&#8220;The decisive thwarting of this attempted hijack is a stellar demonstration of mission deployed efforts [by the Indian Navy] to ensure the security of our oceans and seafarers.&#8221; Shambhu Kumaran, India&#8217;s envoy to the Philippines, wrote on <a href="https://twitter.com/shambhukumaran/status/1743576241641545810">X</a>, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Somalia has historically been an epicenter of piracy, although <a href="https://mc.nato.int/missions/operation-ocean-shield">anti-piracy missions</a> by the U.S. and other naval powers have led to a <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/01/16/what-is-happening-to-africas-pirates">steep decline</a> in the number of incidents since the early 2010s. 
However, Iranian backed Houthi militants from Yemen have been menacing international shopping from the other side of the Gulf of Aden, in support of Hamas and their ongoing war against Israel. There also appears to be a local spike in Somali piracy – another commercial ship, the MV Reun, was <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12868181/Commercial-ship-hijacked-pirates-heading-Somalia-Crew-no-longer-control-Spanish-warship-heads-intercept.html">hijacked</a> last December in the first major Somali attack since 2019.
<div id="attachment_677563" style="width: 451px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-677563" class="wp-image-677563 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/Un-horn-of-africa-441x576.png" alt="" width="441" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/Un-horn-of-africa-441x576.png 441w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/Un-horn-of-africa-230x300.png 230w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/Un-horn-of-africa-768x1004.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/Un-horn-of-africa-1175x1536.png 1175w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/01/Un-horn-of-africa-1567x2048.png 1567w" sizes=" (max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px" />(Horn of Africa by Wikimedia Commons)</div>
Nearly <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/03/a-joint-statement-from-the-governments-of-the-united-states-australia-bahrain-belgium-canada-denmark-germany-italy-japan-netherlands-new-zealand-and-the-united-kingdom/">15%</a> of global maritime trade passes through the Red Sea, and attacks have already sent economic shockwaves across the world in the form of higher shipping costs and <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/03/red-sea-crisis-shipping-costs-delays-inflation.html">supply chain delays</a> that could ripple throughout the system for months.
The international community has condemned the Houthi strikes and several major powers have deployed elements of their navies to escort civilian ships and protect shipping lanes. While the U.S. has taken a prominent role, India has also deployed at least 5 of its own destroyers to the region.
India is highly dependent on international trade – last year they imported <a href="https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/high-dependence-on-imports-hurting-indias-economy">86%</a> of their crude oil – and would be heavily impacted by any interruption of that trade. Vessels crewed by Indian nationals and bound for Indian ports have been <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/oil-tanker-hit-near-indian-coast-amid-maritime-hostilities-against-israel-by-houthis/">struck by missiles</a> since the crisis began.
India has also poured <a href="https://news.usni.org/2022/07/20/indian-navy-expanding-to-meet-china-threat-better-team-with-allies">considerable resources</a> into growing and modernizing their navy, largely in response to China’s military build up. India and China are close trading partners and regional rivals with a fraught relation – India has increasingly aligned itself with the United States via military alliances such as &#8220;The Quad&#8221; (a &#8220;joint dialogue&#8221; between the US, Japan, Australia and India). Sending its assets into the Red Sea could be an opportunity to flex its military muscle in addition to protecting its maritime interests.
“As a rising great power in its own right, India maintains its desire to play a larger and more proactive role as a responsible security and development partner and provider, not only in the Indian Ocean Region but also the greater Indo-Pacific region,” Geopolitical Analyst Don McLain Gill told <a href="https://news.usni.org/2024/01/07/indian-navy-retakes-merchant-ship-from-armed-hijackers-in-the-arabian-sea">USNI News</a>.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Indian Navy Retakes Ship From Hijackers

CONTINUE READING

Morning Brief: Zelensky & Nato Leaders Attend WH Peace Talks, Meta AI Flirts With Kids, DC Crackdown

Morning Brief: Israel Bombs Iran, The Money Behind L.A. Riots & Sanctuary State Govs Get Grilled

How Ukraine Pulled Off Its Massive Drone Strike Inside Russia

Trump Admin Revokes Visa Of Self-Styled ‘Enemy Of America’

Nearly Two Thirds Of Americans Support Trump’s Deportation Policy: Poll

Ukraine Accepts Partial Ceasefire After ‘Very Good Call’ Between Zelensky And Trump

News

Houthis

India

Pirates

Somalia

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Indian Navy Retakes Ship From Hijackers