India launches 'Operation Energy Security' for the Strait of Hormuz

With increasing tension in West Asia, India has launched 'Operation Energy Security'. Under this, several naval warships have been deployed to protect cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz.

The Indian Navy is actively providing security to India-bound ships carrying critical energy commodities such as crude oil, LPG and LNG. As approximately 20 ships remain stranded due to conflict-related risks, this mission reflects the urgent efforts being made to safeguard India's energy security.

Under this operation, more than five frontline warships, including destroyers and frigates, have been deployed in the Gulf of Oman.

A Liberian flagged ship, tanker 'Shenlong Suezmax', which was carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia, became the first ship to reach Mumbai port. This ship has brought more than 135,000 metric tons of crude oil for India.

The incident comes after more than two weeks of escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which has dealt a blow to supply chains, commodity prices and global transportation.

Over the past few days, seven of these ships -- 'Desh Mahima', 'Desh Abhiman', 'Swarna Kamal', 'Vishwa Prerna', 'Jag Virat', 'Jag Lokesh' and 'LNGC Asim' -- have moved ahead and reached the Arabian Sea, the Directorate General of Shipping said. Another ship, 'Jag Lakshya', has headed towards Angola.

Purchasing LPG from Iran for the first time since 2019

For the first time in many years, India has reportedly purchased Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from Iran after the Donald Trump administration relaxed a 30-day embargo to keep oil and gas prices in check. Due to the sanctions of Western countries, India had stopped energy imports from Iran in the year 2019.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that India and four other "friendly countries" China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan have been allowed to pass their ships through the Strait of Hormuz; He further said that Tehran has established its "sovereignty" over this waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

US Navy submarine attack on Iranian frigate

The Iranian frigate was attacked and sunk by a US Navy submarine on 4 March in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka, while returning from exercises in Visakhapatnam. At least 87 sailors were killed in this attack. IRIS Lavan and IRIS Bushehr, which had come to the area to take part in the exercises, are now anchored at Kochi and Trincomalee, Sri Lanka respectively.

About the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is an extremely important and narrow sea route located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, which separates Iran from Oman/UAE.

It is about 140 miles long and only 25–33 km (about 21–25 miles) wide at its narrowest point. It is the only sea exit route for the major producing countries located in the Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait).

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important 'chokepoints' for energy trade. A large part of the world's oil and gas passes through this narrow passage, which connects the Persian Gulf to global markets.

Indian Army's humanitarian and disaster relief operations

Operation Sindhu is a massive evacuation operation launched by the Government of India in June 2025 to safely evacuate Indians stranded there amid the Iran-Israel conflict.

Operation Brahma (2025): Operation launched to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, medical care and search-and-rescue support after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025.

Operation Maitri (2015): A major relief and rescue operation conducted after a devastating earthquake in Nepal. Operation Dost (2023): Immediate relief delivery to Türkiye and Syria after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, including building field hospitals.

Operation Megh Rahat (2014 and 2025): Operations aimed at rescuing and providing relief to civilians during severe floods in Jammu and Kashmir (2014) and North-East India (2025).

Operation Madad (2018): A major rescue and relief operation conducted by the Indian Navy and Army in flood-affected Kerala.

Operation Ganga (2022): A major initiative to evacuate Indian citizens (mostly students) from Ukraine during the Russian invasion in 2022.

Operation Kaveri (2023): A mission to safely bring back Indian citizens stranded in war-torn Sudan.

Operation Devi Shakti (2021): The evacuation operation conducted after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan.

Operation Ajay (2023/2025): Ongoing rescue efforts to evacuate Indian citizens from conflict-torn areas of Israel and Palestine.

Operation Rahat (2015): An evacuation operation conducted to rescue Indian citizens and foreign nationals during the civil war in Yemen.