India Rescues Iranian Crew From Hijacked Fishing Vessel Off Somalia

Indian naval forces completed the rescue of the Iranian fishing vessel Azini and its 20 crew members on Monday. The operation ended in the Arabian Sea, more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai, according to India's Defense Ministry. The vessel had been seized by pirates on October 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun in northeastern Somalia.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the rescue was finalized after an action lasting over 48 hours. Indian forces tracked the ship using a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. The Air Force also deployed additional commandos via a C-17 airdrop.

A Puntland Maritime Police Force official told the Associated Press that Indian troops disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates. The forces confiscated the suspects' mobile phones and released them. The group, which included two Somali security guards, later arrived at Bandar Bayla. Three individuals sustained minor injuries, though the official did not specify who was hurt or how.

India stated the operation concluded without casualties or injuries. It is unclear if this count applies to everyone on board or just the rescued crew. The Puntland official noted a discrepancy in headcounts, citing 21 Iranian crew members and two guards, while India reported rescuing 20 people.

Regional authorities learned of the rescue only after it was complete. The hijacking occurred amid a resurgence of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. By August, pirates had seized six commercial vessels since April. One of these was the oil products tanker Sibu 1, taken 252 kilometers east of al-Mukalla, Yemen.

In September, security forces recovered the tanker MT Honour 25 after pirates killed five crew members. The vessel had been held since April, and authorities detained 16 suspects. These incidents add to shipping risks in a region disrupted by the Iran war. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping have complicated oil transport routes, lengthening voyages and increasing tanker costs.