India Frees Iranian Crew from Hijacked Vessel in Arabian Sea
The 48-hour operation off Somalia involved commandos and air support, occurring amid a resurgence of piracy in the western Indian Ocean.
By Hiroshi Ferrari ·
Twenty Iranian crew members were freed from a fishing boat hijacked off the coast of Somalia, according to the Indian Defense Ministry. The rescue of the vessel, named the Azini, concluded Monday in the Arabian Sea. This marks a rare large-scale maritime intervention by India outside its immediate home waters, involving a direct confrontation with suspected Somali pirates.
The operation began after the Azini was seized on Oct. 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun. Indian forces tracked the ship by sea and air for more than 48 hours before securing it. The ministry stated that the vessel was located more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai. A Puntland Maritime Police Force official confirmed that Indian troops disarmed 12 suspected pirates. The suspects, along with two Somali security guards, were released and later came ashore at Bandar Bayla in northeastern Somalia.
The Indian ministry reported that the operation ended without casualties or injuries. It did not clarify if this count included all individuals aboard or only the rescued crew. The Puntland official noted that three people who came ashore had minor injuries but did not specify their roles. The crew count in the rescue report differs from earlier figures, which listed 21 Iranians and two guards. The discrepancy has not been explained.
The tactical response included a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft airdropped additional commandos during the mission. The ministry cited concerns that pirates might use the hijacked boat as a floating base to attack commercial ships. Regional authorities in Puntland learned of the rescue only after the operation was complete.
This incident occurs during a renewed surge in Somali piracy. Since April, pirates have hijacked six commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. Notable targets included the oil products tanker Sibu 1, seized east of Yemen, and the tanker MT Honour 25, which was held since April before five crew members were killed in September. Security forces recovered that vessel and detained 16 suspects.
The piracy threat intersects with other regional disruptions. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping have complicated oil transport routes. These factors have lengthened voyages and increased tanker costs. Some shipments diverted around Africa now face journeys that are up to a month longer than standard routes.
