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Indian navy rescues 20 crew from Iranian fishing boat hijacked off Somalia
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- Indian naval forces successfully rescued the Iranian fishing vessel Azini and its 20 crew members after a 48-hour operation in the Arabian Sea, more than 3,000 kilometers from Mumbai.
- During the operation, Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates and confiscated their mobile phones before releasing them; three individuals ashore sustained minor injuries.
- The rescue involved a coordinated effort using a warship, maritime surveillance aircraft, marine commandos, and an airdrop of additional commandos by an Indian Air Force C-17.
- The Azini was hijacked on October 29 between Bandar Bayla and Hafun amid a resurgence of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean, which has increased shipping risks in the region.
- Renewed piracy, combined with ongoing regional conflicts such as the Iran war and threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels, has complicated oil transport routes, lengthened voyages, and increased tanker costs.
