Indian Navy Rescues 20 Crew From Hijacked Iranian Vessel

An Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates has been recovered, with all 20 crew members rescued by Indian naval forces following a coordinated 48-hour operation in the Arabian Sea. The mission concluded on Monday, November 2, approximately 3,000 kilometers (1,865 miles) from Mumbai, according to India's Defense Ministry.

The vessel, identified as Azini, was seized on October 29 off Somalia. Indian authorities considered the hijacking a significant maritime security threat because pirates could potentially use the fishing boat as a floating base for attacks against commercial shipping routes.

The rescue involved an Indian Navy warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft and specialized marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft also deployed additional commandos by air, according to the Defense Ministry.

Indian naval forces monitored the vessel's movements through aerial and maritime surveillance before intercepting it. The operation was designed to restrict the pirates' movements and prevent the vessel from escaping.

The Indian Navy described the coordinated deployment and surveillance measures used during the mission.

"Responding to the situation, the Indian Navy tasked a mission-deployed warship to intervene, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Working in close coordination, these platforms located the vessel after persistent surveillance, tracked it’s movements and employed calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain its movement and prevent its escape," the Indian Navy said in an official statement.

The Navy also highlighted the cooperation between India's military services and its maritime security responsibilities in the Indian Ocean region.

"The successful operation is testament to the Indian Navy’s high operational preparedness and ability to undertake complex maritime security operations through seamless inter-service coordination. It also underscores India’s unwavering commitment to remaining First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region," the Navy added.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh praised the operation, emphasizing the Navy's ability to respond to maritime threats and the supporting role played by the Indian Air Force.

"The swift localisation, interception and safe release of the crew and vessel from significantly-armed pirates, with timely support from the Indian Air Force, speak well of the Indian Navy’s high operational readiness and ability to respond decisively to maritime threats across the region," Singh wrote on X.

In a separate statement carried by The Maritime Executive, Singh also congratulated naval personnel for completing the rescue mission.

"My congratulations to [the] Indian Navy for successfully executing a meticulously coordinated 48-hour operation to rescue all 20 crew members of the pirated fishing vessel, Azini," Singh said.

The minister reiterated his assessment of the military coordination and the successful recovery of the vessel and its crew.

"The swift localization, interception and safe release of the crew and vessel from significantly-armed pirates, with timely support from the Indian Air Force, speak well of the Indian Navy’s high operational readiness," Singh added.

However, details surrounding the pirates' detention differed between official accounts and information provided by regional authorities. An official from the Puntland Maritime Police Force told The Associated Press that Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates, confiscated their mobile phones and subsequently released them.

The official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the suspects and two Somali security guards later arrived at Bandar Bayla in northeastern Somalia. Three people who came ashore reportedly sustained minor injuries, although their identities and the circumstances of those injuries were not established.

India's Defense Ministry said the operation concluded without casualties or injuries but did not clarify whether that assessment covered everyone involved or only the rescued crew. The circumstances of the crew's subsequent whereabouts were also not specified.

There was also a discrepancy in the reported number of people aboard Azini. Indian authorities confirmed the rescue of 20 crew members, while a Puntland maritime police officer had previously reported that the vessel carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards.

The October 29 hijacking occurred approximately 185 nautical miles east of Bandar Bayla, according to The Maritime Executive. By Saturday, October 31, the vessel had moved another 110 nautical miles east, bringing it closer to established commercial shipping routes.

The incident comes amid renewed Somali piracy activity across the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. By August 2026, pirates had hijacked six commercial vessels since April, including the oil products tanker Sibu 1, which was seized approximately 252 kilometers (136 nautical miles) east of al-Mukalla, Yemen.

In September, Puntland authorities also reported that pirates had killed five crew members aboard the tanker MT Honour 25 before security forces recovered the vessel. The tanker had been held since April, and authorities said they detained 16 suspected pirates.

International naval patrols and stronger maritime security measures had substantially reduced Somali piracy over the previous decade. However, the latest hijackings have renewed concerns about commercial shipping safety in the region, which also faces disruptions linked to the Iran war, security threats in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks affecting shipping near Bab el-Mandeb.