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NEW DELHI: Prime minister Narendra Modi and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday discussed the growing concerns around maritime security in the wake of attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on vessels in the Red sea, according to an official statement from Israel.
The leaders also discussed moving forward on a proposal to send labourers from India to Israel as the country has witnessed a decline in the number of Thai and other foreign workers since the war that erupted on October 7.
Following the conversation with Israeli counterpart, PM Modi said on social media platform X, “Had a productive exchange of views with PM @netanyahu on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, including shared concerns on the safety of maritime traffic. Highlighted India’s consistent stand in favor of early restoration of peace & stability in the region with continued humanitarian assistance for the affected.”
The intensified attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen on vessels in the Red Sea are seen as a show of support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which is engaged in conflict with Israel in Gaza. These attacks have targeted a crucial route for East-West trade, particularly for oil, using the Suez Canal to save time.
In response to the escalating threat, the United States, along with several other nations, formed a new force dedicated to safeguarding ships transiting the Red Sea. The attacks, which involve drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, prompted US to announce the initiative.
The severity of these attacks, resulting in damage to several vessels, has led multiple shipping companies to issue directives for their ships to remain in place and avoid entering the Bab el-Mandeb Strait until the security situation can be effectively addressed.



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