India frees Iranian fishing crew after 48-hour pirate rescue in Arabian Sea

Twenty crew members of an Iranian fishing vessel were released from pirate control in the Arabian Sea on Monday, ending a 48-hour naval operation. The incident marks the latest seizure in a region where Somali piracy has returned after a decade of decline. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed that the Azini was freed more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai.

The Azini was hijacked on October 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun in northeastern Somalia. A Puntland Maritime Police Force official stated that the vessel carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards at the time of the seizure. India reported rescuing 20 crew members. The ministry did not explain the difference between the two counts, nor did it specify if the crew remained on the vessel or were moved to another location after the rescue.

Indian forces used a warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos to track and secure the ship. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft airdropped additional commandos during the operation. The ministry stated that the operation ended without casualties or injuries, though it was unclear if that assessment included the pirates or only the rescued crew.

Twelve suspected Somali pirates were disarmed, had their mobile phones confiscated, and were released, according to the Puntland official. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The suspects and two security guards later came ashore at Bandar Bayla. Three of those individuals sustained minor injuries, though the official did not specify who was hurt or how.

Regional authorities learned of the successful rescue only after the operation had concluded. The ministry noted that there was concern the pirates might use the fishing boat as a floating base to attack commercial ships. This worry follows a resurgence in piracy across the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean, where six commercial vessels were hijacked between April and August.

The renewed threat adds to shipping risks in a region already strained by the Iran war. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping have forced many vessels to reroute. Some oil shipments now travel around Africa, extending journeys by up to a month and increasing tanker costs.