India frees 20 crew from Iranian vessel hijacked off Somalia
Indian naval forces recovered the Azini after a 48-hour operation in the Arabian Sea, freeing the crew and detaining 12 suspected pirates.
By Olga Menon ·
Indian naval forces rescued 20 members of an Iranian fishing crew from a vessel hijacked off the coast of Somalia. The Defense Ministry confirmed the operation was completed Monday in the Arabian Sea.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the ship, named the Azini, was recovered more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai. The ministry said the vessel had been seized on Oct. 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun.
According to the ministry, the rescue involved a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft airdropped additional commandos to secure the scene. The operation lasted more than 48 hours.
A Puntland Maritime Police Force official told The Associated Press that Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates. The suspects were released after their mobile phones were confiscated. They later came ashore at Bandar Bayla with two Somali security guards. Three of those individuals sustained minor injuries.
The Indian ministry reported no casualties or injuries during the operation. It did not clarify if this count included the security guards or all personnel aboard. The status of the rescued crew, whether they remained on the vessel or were moved to another location, was not specified.
A Puntland maritime police officer noted on Sunday that the Azini carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards. This total of 23 people differs from the 20 crew members India said were freed. The source of this discrepancy could not immediately be explained.
Regional authorities learned of the rescue only after it had been completed. The hijacking is part of a resurgence in Somali piracy. By August, pirates had taken six commercial vessels since April. These included the oil products tanker Sibu 1, seized near Yemen. In September, pirates killed five crew members of the tanker MT Honour 25 before security forces recovered it.
Shipping risks in the region have increased due to the Iran war. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and threats by Yemen's Houthi rebels have complicated oil transport routes. Some shipments diverted around Africa now face journeys up to a month longer. International naval patrols had previously reduced piracy, but recent incidents have renewed concerns.
