Indian Navy Rescues 20 Crew from Hijacked Vessel off Somalia

The Indian Navy completed a 48-hour operation on November 2, 2026, that freed the Iranian fishing vessel Azini and its 20 crew members from armed pirates off the northeastern coast of Somalia. No casualties or injuries were reported.

The vessel had been hijacked earlier in the month and was assessed as a potential mother ship for further attacks on merchant traffic in the Indian Ocean. A mission-deployed warship, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft, located and tracked Azini. Naval platforms used non-kinetic measures to contain the vessel and prevent its escape.

Marine Commandos were then inserted by precision airdrop from an Indian Air Force C-17 transport. The commandos secured the vessel and neutralized the pirate threat. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the forces on the outcome, noting the distance of more than 3,000 km from Mumbai and the coordination with the Air Force.

The Ministry of Defence stated that the operation demonstrated the Navy's ability to conduct complex maritime security missions through inter-service cooperation. India has positioned itself as a first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region. The successful recovery of Azini removes one platform that pirates could have used to expand their range.

Local reports indicated that Indian forces disarmed approximately 12 suspected pirates, confiscated their communications equipment, and released them. The crew consisted primarily of Iranian nationals. The operation ended without shots being reported as necessary once the commandos were aboard.

The incident fits a pattern of intermittent piracy off Somalia that has persisted despite years of international naval patrols. Fishing vessels are occasionally seized and converted into staging platforms for attacks on larger commercial ships. By intercepting Azini before it could be used in that role, the Navy reduced an immediate threat to shipping lanes that carry a substantial share of global trade.

Official statements from the Press Information Bureau and the Navy confirmed the timeline, the assets involved, and the zero-casualty outcome. No further details on the fate of the pirates or the exact disposition of the vessel have been released beyond the safe recovery of the crew.