Indian navy rescues 20 crew from Iranian fishing boat hijacked off Somalia

Indian naval forces successfully rescued a crew of 20 Iranian fishermen from a hijacked fishing boat off the coast of Somalia, according to India's Defense Ministry. The operation, which lasted over 48 hours, concluded on Monday in the Arabian Sea, approximately 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the rescue on Tuesday.

The rescuers disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates and confiscated their mobile phones before releasing them. They also handed over control of the vessel to Puntland Maritime Police Force personnel, who subsequently escorted the suspects and two Somali security guards ashore at Bandar Bayla, northeastern Somalia. Three of those ashore sustained minor injuries, though their roles remain unclear.

The Indian naval forces, supported by an aircraft and marine commandos, tracked the hijacked vessel, the Azini, using both sea and air surveillance. The ship was initially hijacked on October 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun, carrying 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards. The discrepancy in crew numbers between the reported 20 and the actual count of 21 remains unexplained.

The Indian naval operation aimed to prevent the hijacked boat from potentially being used by pirates as a base for attacks on commercial ships. The recent resurgence of Somali piracy has increased concerns about the safety of shipping routes in the region, further complicated by the ongoing war in Iran and threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels. Despite international naval patrols and improved maritime security, the threat of piracy remains significant, with hijackings prolonging shipping times and increasing costs.