Indian Navy Frees 20 Crew from Hijacked Fishing Boat in Arabian Sea

Twenty crew members were rescued from an Iranian fishing boat hijacked off the coast of Somalia, according to India's Defense Ministry. The operation to free the vessel named Azini concluded on Monday in the Arabian Sea.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the rescue took place more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai. The ministry reported that the mission lasted for over 48 hours. It involved a naval warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 plane also airdropped additional troops to assist in the effort.

The Azini was taken by force on October 29. The hijacking occurred in the waters between Bandar Bayla and Hafun. A Puntland Maritime Police Force officer said the boat carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards at the time of the seizure. Indian officials confirmed the rescue of 20 individuals but did not explain the discrepancy in the headcount.

During the operation, Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates. They confiscated the suspects' mobile phones and released them. The pirates and two security guards later arrived at shore in Bandar Bayla. An anonymous official with the Puntland Maritime Police Force told the Associated Press that three of the individuals who came ashore sustained minor injuries. The official did not say whether the injured were pirates or guards, nor did he describe how the injuries occurred.

India's ministry declared that the operation ended without any casualties or injuries. It was unclear if this assessment applied to everyone involved or only the rescued crew. The ministry did not state whether the crew stayed on the ship or were transferred to another location.

Regional authorities learned of the successful rescue only after it was completed. The seizure of the Azini is part of a recent surge in Somali piracy. Since April, pirates have hijacked six commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. In September, security forces recovered the tanker MT Honour 25 after pirates killed five of its crew members.

The rise in piracy comes as shipping routes face other disruptions. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels have complicated oil transport. These factors have lengthened voyages and increased tanker costs for ships moving through the region.