Indian Navy Monitors Merchant Transit Through Bab-el-Mandeb

The Indian Navy monitored the transit of merchant vessels through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in August 2026 amid security risks to commercial shipping in the Red Sea corridor. The operation involved escort and surveillance duties for Indian-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels in the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters.

Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is a narrow maritime passage between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea route, and it is one of the world’s most important chokepoints for oil and container shipping.

Indian Navy Escort Operations

On 25 August 2026, the Indian Navy monitored the safe transit of MV Union Mariner and MV Dagher through the strait. On 22 August 2026, it escorted the crude oil tanker MT Sanmar Herald through the same waterway.

On 9–10 August 2026, INS Trishul, a Talwar-class guided-missile frigate, and INS Aditya, an Aditya-class replenishment ship, escorted MT Compass and MT Thalatta through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Indian Navy has maintained continuous warship deployment in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008 for anti-piracy patrols and protection of merchant shipping.

Operation Sankalp and Maritime Security

Operation Sankalp began in June 2019 as an Indian Navy mission for maritime security in the Gulf region. It involves coordination with the Ministry of Shipping, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for the movement of energy cargoes and commercial vessels.

On 21 August 2026, pirates hijacked two commercial vessels carrying 22 Indian crew members, including the Eritrea-flagged tanker M.T. Sibu 1 off Yemen and the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship M/V LUTUF off Somalia. On 4 August 2026, the Indian-flagged vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank about 13 nautical miles south of Hodeidah, Yemen, after being hit by a projectile, and all 14 crew members were rescued.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
• Operation Sankalp was launched in June 2019.
• The Indian Navy has deployed warships in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008.
• INS Trishul belongs to the Talwar-class, and INS Aditya belongs to the Aditya-class.

Maritime Chokepoints in Static GK

Maritime chokepoints are narrow sea passages used by large volumes of international trade and energy transport. Other major chokepoints include the Strait of Hormuz, the Malacca Strait, and the Suez Canal.