Somali pirates hijacked an oil products tanker off Yemen, kidnapping 20 sailors. This incident marks a resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean, with six commercial vessels seized since April.

The European Union announced it will expand its military naval operations in the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean, including new powers to protect underwater infrastructure and monitor Russia's 'shadow fleet', while refraining from participating in any potential missions aimed at securing oil and gas transport through the Strait of Hormuz for now.

Socotra, the largest island of Yemen's archipelago in the northwestern Indian Ocean, is highlighted as a natural treasure with unique, alien-like biodiversity, having evolved in isolation for millions of years.

The Indian Navy successfully thwarted a suspected piracy attempt on a merchant vessel in the western Indian Ocean. The warship INS Kolkata was instrumental in preventing the attack.