The Indian Navy has enhanced aerial surveillance and increased force levels in the central-north Arabian Sea after the region saw attacks on merchant ships this month.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the navy said: “Task Groups comprising destroyers and frigates have been deployed to undertake maritime security operations and render assistance to merchant vessels in case of any incident. Aerial surveillance by long-range maritime patrol aircraft and RPAs (remotely piloted aircraft) has been enhanced to have a complete maritime domain awareness. Towards effective surveillance of EEZ (exclusive economic zone), the Indian Navy is operating in close coordination with the Coast Guard.”

The navy added that it was closely monitoring the central-north Arabian Sea, in coordination with national maritime agencies. “Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the region,” the statement said.

On December 23, a drone attack was reported on the chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto with 21 Indian crew members, approximately 220 nautical miles southwest of Porbandar. The navy had dispatched a P8I maritime patrol aircraft and a warship and the Coast Guard sent an offshore patrol vessel and a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to assist the merchant vessel. The India-bound chemical tanker was reportedly on its way from Saudi Arabia’s Jubail port to New Mangalore when it was hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle, triggering a massive fire onboard. No injury was reported.

A day later, a Gabon-flagged commercial crude oil tanker with 25 Indian crew members reportedly came under a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea. Indian officials later clarified that the commercial oil tanker was not an Indian-flagged vessel. There were no casualties reported.

The Indian Navy on Sunday said a joint investigation by various agencies was underway after the vessel MV Chem Pluto reached the Indian coast. Additionally, there was a piracy incident involving the MV Ruen approximately 700 miles from the Indian coast.

The incident involving MV Chem Pluto follows a series of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea region by Iran-backed Houthis, who say they are supporting Palestinians under siege in the Gaza Strip, forcing shippers to change course and take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.

The Houthis have targeted ships, especially those bound for Israel, since October soon after the Israel-Hamas war began.