Somali piracy: India rescues Iranian crew after 48 hour operation

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Tuesday that naval forces recovered the Iranian fishing vessel Azini and its 20 crew members from pirates in the Arabian Sea. The operation concluded on Monday, more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai.

The Azini was seized on October 29 while traveling between Bandar Bayla and Hafun. A Puntland Maritime Police Force official told The Associated Press on Sunday that the boat carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards at the time of the hijacking. India’s count of 20 rescued personnel differs from that initial figure, a discrepancy the ministry has not yet explained.

Indian authorities stated the rescue mission lasted over 48 hours. The effort involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 also airdropped additional commandos to assist in securing the vessel. The ministry reported no casualties or injuries, though it did not clarify if this count included the suspects or the security guards.

Indian forces tracked the boat by sea and air before taking control. The ministry cited concerns that pirates might use the Azini as a floating base to attack commercial shipping. Regional authorities in Puntland learned of the rescue only after it was finished.

After the operation, Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates and confiscated their mobile phones. The suspects and the two security guards were released and came ashore at Bandar Bayla in northeastern Somalia. Three individuals suffered minor injuries upon arrival, but the official did not specify which group they belonged to or how the injuries occurred.

The hijacking fits a pattern of rising piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. Since April, pirates have seized six commercial vessels by August. This includes 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 of its crew members. Authorities detained 16 suspected pirates in that incident.

Shipping risks in the region have increased due to the Iran war and Houthi threats against Saudi linked routes. These disruptions have lengthened voyages and raised tanker costs, with some shipments around Africa taking up to a month longer. The recent hijackings have renewed concerns about the return of Somali piracy despite previous declines.