The Indian Navy successfully rescued the crew of an Iranian fishing boat, the Azini, which was hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia. The operation, which lasted over 48 hours, was carried out by Indian naval forces in the Arabian Sea, over 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai. The rescue was completed on Monday, and the crew of 20 was freed from the hijackers.
According to the Indian Defense Ministry, the operation involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft also airdropped additional commandos to support the rescue mission. The ministry stated that the operation ended without casualties or injuries, although it did not specify whether this account covered everyone aboard or only the rescued crew.
The Azini was hijacked on October 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun, and a Puntland maritime police officer had reported that it carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards. However, the Indian Defense Ministry stated that 20 crew members were rescued, and the difference in crew count could not be immediately explained. The hijackers, 12 suspected Somali pirates, were disarmed and released after having their mobile phones confiscated.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the suspects and two Somali security guards came ashore at Bandar Bayla in northeastern Somalia. Three of those who came ashore had minor injuries, but it was unclear whether they were suspects or guards, or how they were hurt. The regional authorities learned of the rescue only after it had taken place.
The hijacking of the Azini followed a resurgence of Somali piracy across the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. In recent months, pirates had hijacked several commercial vessels, including the oil products tanker Sibu 1, which was seized about 252 kilometers east of al-Mukalla, Yemen. The renewed piracy adds to shipping risks in a region already disrupted by the Iran war.
The resurgence of Somali piracy has raised concerns about the threat to commercial shipping in the region. International naval patrols and improved maritime security had sharply reduced Somali piracy over the past decade, but recent hijackings have renewed concerns about the threat. The Indian Navy's successful rescue operation has highlighted the importance of continued vigilance and cooperation to combat piracy in the region.
The incident also highlights the complexities of the security situation in the region, with attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and threats by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels against Saudi-linked shipping through Bab el-Mandeb. These disruptions have lengthened voyages and driven up tanker costs, with some oil shipments diverted around Africa facing journeys up to a month longer.
Key points
- Indian naval forces rescued 20 crew members of an Iranian fishing boat hijacked by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea.
- The operation involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos, and was carried out over 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai.
- The rescue comes amid a resurgence of Somali piracy, with several commercial vessels hijacked in recent months, adding to shipping risks in the region.
