Context: The Indian Navy has deployed ships and aircraft to maintain enhanced surveillance and maritime security operations in the North/Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden. 

News:

• The Navy is actively observing the situation in collaboration with national maritime agencies and is dedicated to guaranteeing the well-being of merchant shipping and seafarers in the area.
• Current Deployed Warships include INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Kolkata, and INS Chennai, along with a frigate of the Talwar Class.

Gulf of Aden:

• The Gulf of Aden derives its name from the port city of "Aden" situated on Yemen’s coastline.
• Location: Situated between the Arabian Peninsula (north) and the Horn of Africa (south), it is an extension of the Indian Ocean.
  • The Gulf is bordered by Somali and the Socotra Islands to the south, Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, and Djibouti to the west.
  • It is linked to the Somali Sea in the south through the Guardafui Channel and to the Red Sea in the west through the Strait of Bab el Mandeb.
• Connectivity: The Gulf serves as a connection between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea via the Strait of Bab el Mandeb.
• Major Harbors: Key harbors include Aden, Mukalla, Ahnwar, Balhaf, Berbera, Bosaso, and Djibouti City.
• Challenges: Recent challenges in the Gulf encompass issues of piracy, terrorism, and the smuggling of refugees.
• Importance: The Gulf of Aden holds strategic significance as a vital segment of the Suez Canal shipping route, linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.