New Delhi: Indian Navy warships INS Trishul and INS Aditya escorted crude oil tankers MT Compass and MT Thalata through the waters near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait amid heightened security concerns in the Red Sea.
The two warships escorted the tankers through the high-risk area near Bab-el-Mandeb on August 9-10, 2026, the Navy’s Western Command posted on X.
It also shared photographs showing the warships sailing alongside the oil tankers, with a naval helicopter monitoring the operation from above.
The deployment comes as India’s energy shipments from the Gulf face renewed security challenges in the Red Sea following the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Navy has stepped up its presence in vulnerable maritime zones and is providing escorts to commercial vessels carrying crude oil and other essential goods to deter piracy and protect shipping, as reported by Firstpost.
Concerns were raised after an Indian-flagged vessel was attacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
The MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank about 13 nautical miles south of Hodeidah, Yemen, on August 4 after being struck by an unprovoked projectile.
All 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals and one Yemeni national, were safely rescued by Yemeni forces and taken to Mokha.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea over the past several days.
The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a key route for international trade and energy shipments.
Saudi Arabia also used the Bab-el-Mandeb route to transport oil to India during the Strait of Hormuz crisis.