{"id":145,"date":"2026-01-07T10:30:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T05:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/?p=145"},"modified":"2026-01-07T10:30:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T05:00:30","slug":"operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/","title":{"rendered":"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In November 1988, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean faced a sudden and violent coup attempt. Within hours, India launched one of the fastest overseas military interventions in its history. The mission was swift, decisive, and executed with precision. It came to be known as&nbsp;<strong>Operation Cactus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The operation demonstrated India\u2019s ability to project power rapidly beyond its borders and stabilise a regional crisis before it escalated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Crisis in the Maldives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On the night of 3 November 1988, armed mercenaries attempted to overthrow the government of the Maldives. The attackers seized key locations in the capital, Mal\u00e9, including government buildings and communication centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom narrowly escaped capture and urgently requested military assistance from India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The situation was volatile. Delay could have resulted in a hostile takeover and regional instability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">India\u2019s Rapid Decision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>India responded almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Political approval was granted within hours, and the armed forces were tasked with mounting a rescue and stabilisation mission. Speed was critical. The objective was clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Secure the Maldivian government<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neutralise the coup attempt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restore lawful authority<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There was no margin for prolonged planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Airlift and Deployment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>Indian Air Force<\/strong>&nbsp;executed a long-range airlift operation using IL-76 transport aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indian Army paratroopers were flown over 2,000 kilometres from Agra to Mal\u00e9 in a matter of hours. The aircraft landed at Hulhul\u00e9 airport, from where troops moved rapidly into the capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The speed of deployment surprised the attackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ground Operations in Mal\u00e9<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once on the ground, Indian troops moved to secure key locations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The presidential palace<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Government offices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communication hubs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strategic intersections<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The mercenaries were quickly overwhelmed. Some attempted to flee using hijacked boats, hoping to escape by sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Naval Interception<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>Indian Navy<\/strong>&nbsp;played a crucial role in preventing escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indian naval ships intercepted fleeing mercenaries in the open sea and apprehended them. This ensured the complete neutralisation of the coup attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The coordination between air, land, and sea forces was seamless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mission Completed in Hours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Within roughly 16 hours of the initial request for help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Maldivian government was restored<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The capital was secured<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All hostile elements were neutralised or captured<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Indian forces withdrew soon after, having achieved all objectives without civilian harm or prolonged presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Strategic Significance of Operation Cactus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Operation Cactus had far-reaching implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It demonstrated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s rapid response capability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Effective joint operations across services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Willingness to act as a regional stabiliser<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The operation earned India significant diplomatic goodwill and reinforced trust among Indian Ocean nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lessons From Operation Cactus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The operation highlighted several enduring lessons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speed can be decisive in crisis response<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joint planning is essential for overseas operations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited objectives reduce escalation risks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Military force can be used to restore stability, not occupation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These lessons continue to influence India\u2019s strategic thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Operation Cactus Still Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Operation Cactus is often cited as a textbook example of limited military intervention done right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clearly defined<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swiftly executed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Politically restrained<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Militarily precise<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In an era of complex regional challenges, the operation remains relevant as a model for crisis response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Closing Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Operation Cactus showed that military power does not always need to be large or prolonged to be effective. Sometimes, speed, clarity, and coordination matter more than scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By acting decisively and withdrawing promptly, India demonstrated how force can be used responsibly to protect stability beyond its borders. More than three decades later, Operation Cactus remains a defining moment in India\u2019s military history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In November 1988, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean faced a sudden and violent &hellip; <a title=\"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives\" class=\"hm-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow7PXDDA:productID":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[143,124,144,141,142],"class_list":["post-145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-wars-operations","tag-indian-army-paratroopers","tag-indian-military-history","tag-indian-ocean-security","tag-operation-cactus","tag-overseas-military-operations-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives - trunkstory.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives - trunkstory.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In November 1988, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean faced a sudden and violent &hellip; Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the MaldivesRead more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"trunkstory.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-07T05:00:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-07T05:00:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Operation-Cactus.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"730\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"411\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a4a1796114d1d08a9bfe7e2ef3db8830\"},\"headline\":\"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-07T05:00:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-07T05:00:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":588,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a4a1796114d1d08a9bfe7e2ef3db8830\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Operation-Cactus.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Indian Army Paratroopers\",\"Indian Military History\",\"Indian Ocean Security\",\"Operation Cactus\",\"Overseas Military Operations India\"],\"articleSection\":[\"History, Wars &amp; Operations\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/\",\"name\":\"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives - trunkstory.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Operation-Cactus.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-07T05:00:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-07T05:00:30+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Operation-Cactus.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Operation-Cactus.webp\",\"width\":730,\"height\":411},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/07\\\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"trunkstory.com\",\"description\":\"Stories of Service, Sacrifice, and the Uniform\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a4a1796114d1d08a9bfe7e2ef3db8830\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a4a1796114d1d08a9bfe7e2ef3db8830\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/cropped-logo-post.png\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/cropped-logo-post.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/cropped-logo-post.png\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":327,\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/cropped-logo-post.png\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/trunkstory.com\\\/index.php\\\/author\\\/admin\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives - trunkstory.com","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives - trunkstory.com","og_description":"In November 1988, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean faced a sudden and violent &hellip; Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the MaldivesRead more","og_url":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/","og_site_name":"trunkstory.com","article_published_time":"2026-01-07T05:00:29+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-07T05:00:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":730,"height":411,"url":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Operation-Cactus.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Estimated reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/#\/schema\/person\/a4a1796114d1d08a9bfe7e2ef3db8830"},"headline":"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives","datePublished":"2026-01-07T05:00:29+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-07T05:00:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/"},"wordCount":588,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/#\/schema\/person\/a4a1796114d1d08a9bfe7e2ef3db8830"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Operation-Cactus.webp","keywords":["Indian Army Paratroopers","Indian Military History","Indian Ocean Security","Operation Cactus","Overseas Military Operations India"],"articleSection":["History, Wars &amp; Operations"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/","url":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/","name":"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives - trunkstory.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Operation-Cactus.webp","datePublished":"2026-01-07T05:00:29+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-07T05:00:30+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Operation-Cactus.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Operation-Cactus.webp","width":730,"height":411},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/07\/operation-cactus-how-india-executed-a-16-hour-military-rescue-in-the-maldives\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Operation Cactus: How India Executed a 16-Hour Military Rescue in the Maldives"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/","name":"trunkstory.com","description":"Stories of Service, Sacrifice, and the Uniform","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/#\/schema\/person\/a4a1796114d1d08a9bfe7e2ef3db8830"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/#\/schema\/person\/a4a1796114d1d08a9bfe7e2ef3db8830","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cropped-logo-post.png","url":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cropped-logo-post.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cropped-logo-post.png","width":1080,"height":327,"caption":"admin"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cropped-logo-post.png"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/trunkstory.com"],"url":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":147,"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145\/revisions\/147"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trunkstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}