Indian Navy’s 48-Hour Operation Rescues 20 From Somali Pirates
What Happened
The Indian Navy rescued all 20 crew members of the Iranian fishing vessel Azini, which had been hijacked by armed Somali pirates off northeastern Somalia. The rescue followed a coordinated 48-hour operation in the Arabian Sea, more than 3,000 km from Mumbai. The Navy deployed a warship and maritime reconnaissance aircraft to locate and track the vessel. Marine Commandos were also deployed with support from an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. All 20 crew members were freed safely, with no casualties or injuries reported. The hijacking had raised concerns that Azini could be used as a “mother ship” to facilitate further pirate attacks on merchant vessels in the region.
Key Takeaways
The operation highlights India’s ability to conduct a complex, long-range anti-piracy mission in the Indian Ocean region, combining naval surveillance, commandos and Air Force support to secure the vessel and rescue its crew.