The Indian Navy was just minutes away from striking Pakistan from the sea during Operation Sindoor, navy chief admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi said on Wednesday. The operation was carried out last year following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Speaking at a naval investiture ceremony, admiral Tripathi awarded Yudh Seva Medals to two senior naval officers for their distinguished service during the operation.

“It is now not a hidden fact that we were just minutes away from striking Pakistan from sea when they requested stoppage of kinetic actions,” he said.

The Navy Chief also spoke on the ongoing West Asia conflict, saying that since the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran began, more than 20 merchant vessels have been attacked in the region. Nearly 1,900 vessels remain stranded.

Daily traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to six-seven transits, compared to a pre-conflict average of about 130.