India rescues crew from hijacked ship
Indian forces freed 20 Iranian sailors from a vessel seized off Somalia after a 48-hour operation involving warships and commandos.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Indian naval forces freed an Iranian fishing vessel and its crew from Somali pirates on Monday, ending a standoff that lasted more than 48 hours. The rescue of the Azini took place in the Arabian Sea, a distance of over 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai, according to Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Azini was seized on October 29 in waters between Bandar Bayla and Hafun. At the time of the hijacking, Puntland maritime police reported the ship carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards. The discrepancy between that initial count and the 20 rescued by India was not immediately explained.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the operation involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. The ministry added that an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft airdropped additional commandos to assist in the raid. Authorities tracked the vessel by both sea and air before securing it.
A Puntland Maritime Police Force official told The Associated Press that Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates. The suspects had their mobile phones confiscated and were released. They later came ashore at Bandar Bayla in northeastern Somalia. Three individuals sustained minor injuries during the operation, though it was unclear if they were suspects or guards.
The Indian ministry reported that the operation ended without casualties or injuries, though it did not specify if this applied to everyone aboard the ship. The ministry expressed concern that pirates might have used the vessel as a floating base to attack commercial ships. Regional authorities learned of the rescue only after it was completed.
The hijacking occurred amid a resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. Since April, pirates have seized six commercial vessels. In September, authorities recovered the tanker MT Honour 25 after pirates killed five crew members. The vessel had been held since April, and 16 suspected pirates were detained in that incident.
Shipping risks in the region have increased due to the ongoing Iran war. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels against Saudi-linked shipping have complicated oil transport routes. Some shipments diverted around Africa now face journeys up to a month longer than usual. Improved maritime security had previously reduced Somali piracy over the last decade, but recent events have renewed concerns about the threat.
