INDIAN NAVY CONFIRMS INTERDICTING 24 PIRATES IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003153 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: MOPS PGOV KCRM PHSA EWWT IN SUBJECT: INDIAN NAVY CONFIRMS INTERDICTING 24 PIRATES IN GULF OF ADEN Classified By: A/PolCouns Les Viguerie for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) The Indian Navy confirmed to Post press reports of the Indian Navy Ship Mysore successfully interdicting two pirate vessels in the act of attacking the Ethiopian-flagged MV Gibe in the Gulf of Aden on December 13. According to the Indian Navy's version of events, the Mysore received a distress call at approximately 11:00 local on December 13, on MMB Channel 16, saying the Gibe was under attack by two boats closing in and firing small arms. The Gibe was able to hold off the pirates with retaliatory small arms fire it held onboard the ship while the Mysore altered course and launched a Chetak helicopter. ¶2. (C) Upon sighting the helicopter and the closing Mysore, the pirate boats reportedly disengaged from the Gibe, with the skiff returning to the dhow, at which time the personnel on board pretended to be fishermen. Presumably panicking as the Mysore approached, the crew of the dhow attempted to escape, prompting the Mysore to fire warning shots across the bow. The dhow, later identified as "Salahaddin," stopped and was boarded by Indian Marine Commandos, who carried out a search. All 24 personnel onboard the Salahaddin, including 12 Somalis and 12 Yemenis, surrendered immediately and were taken into custody by the Mysore. The Indian Navy told Post that the Government of Yemen has agreed to take custody of all of those captured. The search uncovered seven AK-47 machine guns, three automatic rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, thirteen loaded magazines, cartridges and grenades, as well as a GPS receiver and a mobile phone. ¶3. (C) The Indian Navy provided the Naval Attache with several photos of the incident, including photos of boarding the dhow and a lineup of the weapons/ammunition seized. The photos have been forwarded to the India Desk (SCA/INS). MULFORD