New Delhi, June 21: The Indian navy has on Thursday deployed aircraft and warships to the Gulf of Oman in order to undertake maritime security processes amidst escalating tensions between Iran and the United States.
The announcement has come from the Indian navy after Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had shot down an American spy drone after it was found entering the Iranian airspace, according to Sputnik news reports.
The Indian navy stated, “Ships Chennai and Sunayna have been deployed in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf to undertake Maritime Security operations. In addition, aerial surveillance by IN (Indian) aircraft is also being undertaken in the area.”
#IndianNavy executes 'Operation Sankalp' – Deploys INS Chennai & INS Sunayna in the Gulf of Oman, to re-assure Indian Flagged Vessels operating/ transiting through Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman following the maritime security incidents in the region 1/n (rep images) pic.twitter.com/N1Kn8AXNey
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 20, 2019
India named the deployment “Operation Sankalp [resolution], claiming it serves to re-assure Indian-flagged vessels voyaging through the region following recent maritime attacks in the Gulf of Oman.
Japan’s firm Kokuka Sangyo-owned a chemical tanker “Kokuka Courageous” and Norwegian firm Frontline-owned the “Front Altair” oil tanker were attacked last week near the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is water stretch narrowly between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, and one of the most vital passageways for the oil suppliers across the world.