MUMBAI/NEW DELHI — The Indian Navy coordinated a 48-hour operation to rescue all 20 crew members of the Iranian fishing vessel Azini, which had been seized by Somali pirates on October 29, officials said Monday.
The operation took place approximately 3,000 km from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. 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 its movements and employed calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain its movement and prevent its escape, the navy said.
Commandos were dropped by an IAF C-17 aircraft to conduct the rescue. All 20 crew members were safely recovered.
The hijacking had been assessed as a significant maritime security threat, with the possibility of the vessel being employed as a ‘mother ship’ for launching further pirate attacks against merchant shipping in the region, the navy said.
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, the navy added. It also underscores India’s unwavering commitment to remaining First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Navy for the ‘meticulously coordinated operation.’ 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.
The operation reflects India’s growing maritime security capabilities and its role in ensuring safety of navigation in key sea lanes.
