Indian Navy Frees Iranian Fishing Crew Held Off Somali Coast

Indian naval forces completed a 48-hour operation Monday to free the Iranian fishing vessel Azini and its 20 crew members, who had been held captive by suspected Somali pirates. The rescue took place in the Arabian Sea, roughly 1,865 miles from Mumbai, according to statements from India's Defense Ministry on Tuesday.

The operation involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 plane airdropped additional commandos to assist in securing the vessel. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the completion of the mission, noting that the boat was more than 3,000 kilometers from the nearest major port.

An official from the Puntland Maritime Police Force told the Associated Press that Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected pirates and confiscated their mobile phones before releasing them. The suspects, along with two Somali security guards, later arrived at Bandar Bayla in northeastern Somalia. Three individuals among that group sustained minor injuries, though the official did not clarify whether the injuries belonged to the suspects or the guards.

The Indian ministry reported that the operation concluded without casualties or injuries, though it did not specify if that count included everyone aboard or just the rescued crew. It remained unclear whether the crew stayed on the Azini or were transferred to another location. The Puntland official noted that regional authorities learned of the rescue only after the event was finished.

The Azini was hijacked on Oct. 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun. A Puntland maritime police officer stated on Sunday that the ship carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards at the time of the hijacking. The difference between that initial count and the 20 crew members freed by India has not been explained.

Indian officials expressed concern that pirates could use the vessel as a base for attacks on commercial ships. They tracked the boat by sea and air before taking control. This incident is part of a recent surge in piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.

Since April, pirates have seized six commercial vessels. In September, they killed five crew members of the tanker MT Honour 25 before security forces recovered the ship. Authorities detained 16 suspected pirates in that incident. These disruptions come as the region deals with shipping risks from the Iran war and Houthi attacks, which have already increased tanker costs and extended voyage times.