Two Indian planes have arrived in the Maldives this morning.

Information Officer of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Ibrahim Azim said that two surveillance Doneo planes landed at Hanimaadhoo International Airport this morning around 10:25 a.m.

He said that the two flights are part of a joint operation by the Indian Navy and the MNDF Coast Guard to surveil the Exclusive Maldivian Economic Zone and the operation will continue up to 16 September 2020.

MNDF said that is part of the joint aerial surveillance patrols being conducted since 2009. The Indian flights were involved in the surveillance operation in this past July as well, according to MNDF.