Aden – The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) have announced the launch of a new multinational operation aimed at countering piracy and enhancing maritime security across the western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait—one of the world’s most vital corridors for global trade.

The operation, which brings together naval assets and personnel from multiple member states, seeks to deter illicit maritime activity, safeguard commercial shipping, and reinforce freedom of navigation in a region increasingly threatened by piracy and instability.

According to CMF leadership, the initiative reflects a renewed commitment to collaborative maritime enforcement and intelligence sharing, with a focus on protecting vessels transiting through the Red Sea and adjacent waters. 

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, in particular, serves as a strategic chokepoint linking the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, making its security essential to global commerce.

The CMF emphasized that the operation will include patrols, surveillance, and coordinated responses to emerging threats, in close partnership with regional and international stakeholders.