Strait Of Hormuz Crisis: Tension is increasing in the Strait of Hormuz. After the drone attack on the Indian ship ‘Haji Ali’ off the coast of Oman, now the news of capture of another ship near UAE has come to light. India has strongly condemned the attack and expressed concern over maritime security.
The effect of increasing tension in West Asia is now clearly visible on the sea routes. Continuous incidents around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most sensitive maritime routes, have increased the concern of the international community. Not even 24 hours had passed since the drone attack on an Indian-flagged cargo ship, when news of the capture of another ship has come to light. This new development has raised serious questions regarding the security situation in the Gulf region. Especially at a time when tension between America and Iran is continuously increasing and military activities on sea routes have intensified.
Notice of capture of ship near UAE
Britain’s maritime security agency UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) said on Thursday that a ship has been captured by unauthorized people about 38 nautical miles away from Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates. According to the agency, the ship was anchored in the sea near the Strait of Hormuz. According to initial information, the captors are taking the ship towards the Iranian border. However, till now the identity of the ship has not been made public nor is it clear to which country the ship belongs. Maritime security agencies are continuously monitoring the situation.
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Drone attack on Indian ship ‘Haji Ali’
Earlier in the early hours of Wednesday, there was a drone attack on the Indian flag cargo ship ‘Haji Ali’. The ship was reported to be passing through the Lima area near the northern coast of Oman when it was attacked at around 3:30 pm. After the attack a massive fire broke out on the ship. Due to the fire, the ship lost its balance and sank in the sea. After the incident, a situation like high alert was created in the entire area.
India expressed strong objection
The Indian Foreign Ministry has strongly criticized this attack. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the attack on an Indian-flagged ship was completely unacceptable. He said that targeting commercial and civilian ships is a serious threat to international maritime security. The Ministry of External Affairs also clarified that all Indian crew members on board the ship were safe and the Oman administration helped in their rescue.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s busiest and strategic sea routes. A large part of the global oil supply passes through this route. In such a situation, any kind of military or terrorist activity here can directly impact international trade and the oil market.
Security of Indian ships becomes a big issue
After the attack on the Indian ship, the discussion on the country’s maritime security system and foreign policy has also intensified. A large number of Indian ships and sailors remain active in the Gulf region. In such a situation, their security is very important for India from both strategic and economic point of view. At present, international agencies are busy identifying the captured ship and gathering information about the attackers. At the same time, there are no signs of tension reducing in the Gulf region.
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