Threat around Hormuz expands eastwards, Navy steps up escort
Six to eight warships on duty as India secures oil routes
Dynamics around the Strait of Hormuz continue to evolve, with threat activity expanding eastwards towards the Gulf of Oman, according to an assessment by the Indian Navy-hosted Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).
The IFC-IOR, a multinational construct with representatives from several countries, aggregates commercial shipping data from over 20 nations to build a common maritime picture. “Dynamics around the Strait of Hormuz continue to evolve as threat activity expands eastwards,” the centre said in its update on Tuesday night.
It cited six shipping incidents east of the Strait of Hormuz, particularly in approaches to the Gulf of Oman, as evidence of the expanding threat. This could exert sustained pressure on global energy and commodity supply chains, with war-risk insurance premiums likely to remain elevated.
Separately, the Indian Navy has ramped up deployments to escort LPG and crude oil carriers exiting the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman. At present, six to eight warships, along with surveillance aircraft and UAVs, are deployed for Hormuz-related operations.
Sources said the Navy had constituted two task forces, with the number of warships rising from three deployed on Sunday. At least six to eight warships are currently tasked with escort duties. The deployment is being undertaken independently, without India joining any multinational coalition like the one proposed by US President Donald Trump.
Officials declined to specify the exact assets deployed but noted that more LPG and crude shipments were expected to transit the region.
Three frontline naval warships are stationed in the Gulf of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz, and have been escorting Indian LPG cargoes in recent days. These vessels are supported by onboard radar, indigenous satellite connectivity, maritime surveillance aircraft and drones.
The Navy has maintained a sustained presence in the region, with one warship deployed in the Gulf of Aden since 2008 for anti-piracy operations, and another in the Gulf of Oman since 2019. The current crisis has led to the deployment of an additional warship.
The Navy can refuel and restock at Omani ports such as Duqm and Salalah, and also has the option of deploying fleet tankers to conduct mid-sea replenishment of fuel and supplies.
