India frees Iranian vessel hijacked off Somalia after 48-hour operation

Indian naval forces recovered an Iranian fishing boat and its 20 crew members in the Arabian Sea on Monday.

The Defense Ministry announced the completion of the rescue operation on Tuesday. The vessel, named Azini, had been seized on October 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun. The ship was located more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the rescue. The operation involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft airdropped additional personnel during the mission. The ministry stated that the action lasted more than 48 hours and ended without casualties or injuries among the rescued crew.

A Puntland Maritime Police Force official told The Associated Press that Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates. The pirates were also stripped of their mobile phones and released. The 12 suspects and two Somali security guards later arrived at Bandar Bayla in northeastern Somalia. Three of those individuals sustained minor injuries, though the official did not specify which group they belonged to or how the wounds were sustained.

The vessel carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali guards according to Puntland police. This count differs from the 20 crew members cited by the Indian ministry. The ministry did not clarify if the crew remained on the vessel or were moved to another location. Regional authorities learned of the rescue only after the operation concluded.

The hijacking occurred during a period of renewed Somali piracy. Pirates seized six commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean between April and August. These incidents included the oil products tanker Sibu 1, taken 252 kilometers east of al-Mukalla, Yemen. In September, security forces recovered the tanker MT Honour 25 after pirates killed five of its crew members. Authorities detained 16 suspected pirates in that incident.

Shipping risks in the region have increased due to disruptions from the Iran war. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels against Saudi-linked shipping have complicated transport routes. These factors have lengthened voyages and raised tanker costs. Some oil shipments rerouted around Africa now face journeys up to a month longer.