Indian Navy rescues 20 Iranian crew members from hijacked vessel off Somalia
Marine commandos airdropped from an IAF aircraft secured the vessel Azini following a 48-hour surveillance operation 3,000 km from Mumbai.
Indian naval forces have successfully rescued 20 Iranian crew members from a hijacked fishing vessel off the northeastern coast of Somalia, completing a 48-hour operation that highlights India's expanding role as the primary security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.
The fishing vessel Azini was seized by an armed pirate group on 29 October between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun. Concerned that the pirates intended to use the boat as a mother ship to launch attacks against commercial shipping, the Indian Navy deployed a mission-ready warship, identified by the Defence Ministry as the stealth destroyer INS Kolkata, alongside long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
After persistent surveillance tracked the vessel's movement 3,000 km from Mumbai, naval forces employed non-kinetic measures to contain its movement. Marine Commandos were subsequently precision-airdropped into the area by an Indian Air Force C-17 transport aircraft. The commandos boarded the vessel, neutralised the pirate threat, and rescued all 20 crew members without casualties or injuries.
Operation details and regional maritime safety
| Vessel / Incident | Location | Action Taken | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azini (Iranian fishing boat) | Off Hafun, Somalia | Joint Navy-IAF MARCOS airdrop & boarding | 20 Iranian crew rescued safely |
| Al Jusufi (Indian cargo vessel) | Coast of Oman | Maritime response following drone attack | 13 crew rescued; 1 Indian sailor killed |
The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi expressed its sincere gratitude to the Indian government and armed forces, describing the rescue as a humanitarian effort that demonstrated friendship, solidarity, and effective coordination. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended the personnel involved, stating that the swift interception and release of the crew showed India's operational readiness and resolve to safeguard lives and uphold stability across maritime trade routes.
The rescue comes amid a sharp rise in piracy attacks in the western Indian Ocean during 2026, driven by geopolitical instability and shifting international naval patrols. Somali pirates have carried out at least 15 attacks or seizures this year, hijacking at least eight vessels.
The Indian Navy has maintained round-the-clock anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008. In a separate maritime security incident off the coast of Oman, Indian naval forces assisted following a drone attack on the Indian-flagged cargo vessel Al Jusufi, rescuing 13 crew members after an Indian sailor was killed in the strike.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rescued crew members | 20 Iranian sailors | Indian Navy |
| Operation duration | Over 48 hours | Indian Navy |
| Distance of operation from Mumbai | 3,000 km | Ministry of Defence |
| Somali pirate hijackings in 2026 | At least 8 vessels | Regional maritime tracking data |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Indian Navy | Executed the rescue operation and tactical intervention. |
| Indian Air Force | Airdropped Marine Commandos using a C-17 aircraft. |
| Azini | Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates. |
| Somalia | Location off whose coast the vessel was hijacked. |
