India frees Iranian crew from Somali waters

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed on Tuesday that naval forces completed a rescue of the Iranian fishing vessel Azini in the Arabian Sea. The operation concluded Monday, securing the ship and 20 crew members from a location more than 1,865 miles from Mumbai. The ministry stated the mission involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft airdropped additional troops to support the effort.

The Azini was seized on Oct. 29 in the waters between Bandar Bayla and Hafun. A Puntland Maritime Police Force officer reported on Sunday that the vessel carried 21 Iranians and two Somali security guards at the time of the hijacking. That count differs from the 20 crew members India said were rescued. The official did not provide an explanation for the discrepancy. The ministry said the operation ended without casualties, though it did not specify if that assessment included the security personnel.

A Puntland Maritime Police official told The Associated Press that Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates and took their mobile phones. The suspects and the two guards were released and came ashore at Bandar Bayla. The official noted that three individuals sustained minor injuries upon arrival but did not identify which group they belonged to. Regional authorities learned of the successful rescue only after the operation had finished.

The seizure occurred during a period of increased maritime activity. Six commercial vessels were hijacked between April and August. Among them was the oil products tanker Sibu 1, taken 136 nautical miles east of al-Mukalla, Yemen. In September, security forces recovered the tanker MT Honour 25 after pirates killed five crew members. Authorities detained 16 suspects in that incident. The vessel had been held since April.

Shipping lanes in the region face additional pressure from the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi threats against Saudi-linked traffic in Bab el-Mandeb have altered oil transport routes. These disruptions have forced some shipments to divert around Africa, extending transit times by up to a month. Higher tanker costs and longer voyages have become common as a result of the complex security environment.

International patrols had previously reduced Somali piracy over the last decade. The recent string of hijackings has drawn new attention to the threat level in the western Indian Ocean. Indian officials cited a specific concern that pirates could use the Azini as a base to attack commercial shipping. The vessel was tracked by sea and air before forces moved to secure it.