INDIAN NAVY RESCUES 20 CREW MEMBERS FROM SOMALI PIRATES IN HIGH-RISK OPERATION OFF SOMALIA

November 3, 2026

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 3: The Indian Navy has regained control of an Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates and rescued all 20 crew members without any casualties or injuries following an operation lasting more than 48 hours.

The vessel, named Azini, was seized by 12 armed pirates on October 29 off the northeastern coast of Somalia, between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun. The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean had warned that the hijacked fishing vessel could potentially be used as a “mother ship” to launch further attacks on commercial shipping routes.

The rescue operation, completed on Monday more than 3,000 kilometres from Mumbai, involved an Indian Navy warship, aerial surveillance, Marine Commandos and the Indian Air Force. After receiving information about the hijacking, the Navy deployed a warship to intercept the vessel, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

According to the Navy, sustained surveillance helped locate the vessel and track its movements. Calibrated non-kinetic measures were subsequently employed to restrict its movement and prevent its escape.

The operation then moved into a coordinated tactical intervention, with Marine Commandos deployed through a precision airdrop from an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. The commandos secured the vessel, overcame the pirate threat and ensured the safe release of all 20 crew members.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Navy and the Air Force for their coordinated response. He said the successful operation demonstrated the Navy's operational readiness and its ability to respond to maritime threats across the region.

The Navy reiterated its commitment to safeguarding seafarers, protecting vital maritime trade routes and maintaining security in the Indian Ocean Region.

The hijacking comes amid a resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. By August, pirates had seized six commercial vessels since April. In September, Puntland authorities reported that pirates had killed five crew members of the tanker MT Honour 25, which had been held since April, before security forces recovered the vessel and detained 16 suspected pirates.