India frees 20 crew from Iranian boat seized off Somalia
The 48-hour rescue operation ended with the release of 12 suspected pirates, amid a rising tide of maritime seizures in the western Indian Ocean.
By Hassan Ellis ·
Indian naval forces recovered 20 crew members from an Iranian fishing vessel that had been held by pirates for five days. The Defense Ministry announced the successful recovery on Tuesday, confirming the operation concluded Monday in the Arabian Sea.
The hijacking began on October 29, when the Azini was seized in waters between Bandar Bayla and Hafun in Somalia. By Sunday, local police reported the vessel carried 21 Iranians and two Somali security guards. India’s official count of 20 rescued crew members left a one-person discrepancy that officials had not yet explained.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated the vessel was secured more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai. The rescue effort deployed a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft also airdropped additional troops to assist in the operation.
A Puntland Maritime Police Force official told The Associated Press that Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates. The suspects had their mobile phones confiscated and were released to come ashore at Bandar Bayla. Three individuals reported minor injuries upon arrival, though the official did not clarify if they were pirates or security guards.
New Delhi reported the operation ended without casualties, though it was unclear if that assessment covered the entire ship or only the rescued crew. The ministry cited concerns that pirates might use the hijacked boat as a base to attack commercial traffic. Regional authorities learned of the rescue only after the fact.
This incident fits a pattern of renewed piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. Since April, pirates have seized six commercial vessels. In September, security forces recovered the tanker MT Honour 25, which had been held since April, and detained 16 suspects after five crew members were killed.
Shipping routes in the region remain complicated by the ongoing Iran war and Houthi threats in the Strait of Hormuz. These disruptions have forced some oil tankers to divert around Africa, adding up to a month to their voyages and raising transport costs.
