Indian Navy rescues 20 Iranian crew members from hijacked vessel off Somalia

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has rescued a fishing vessel carrying 20 Iranian crew members off the coast of Somalia in an operation lasting more than 48 hours, weeks after it was hijacked by pirates.

The vessel, Azini, was hijacked by an armed pirate group earlier last month, the Navy said on Tuesday.

All 20 crew members were rescued safely, with no casualties or injuries, it said.

The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi expressed its “sincere appreciation” to the Indian government, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force for the “successful operation” to rescue the crew members.

The Navy said the hijacking posed a “significant maritime security threat”, as the vessel could have been used as a “mother ship” to launch further attacks against merchant shipping in the region.

In response, the Navy deployed a mission-ready warship, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft, to intervene.

“Working in close coordination, these platforms located the vessel after persistent surveillance, tracked its movements and employed calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain its movement and prevent its escape,” it said in a statement.

Marine commandos were then deployed through a precision airdrop from an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft, the Navy said.

“Executing a swift and well-coordinated tactical intervention, the Indian Navy secured the vessel, overcame the pirate threat and ensured safe release of all 20 crew members,” it said.

The Navy described the operation as a “testament” to its operational preparedness and ability to undertake complex maritime security missions through “seamless inter-service coordination”.

“It also underscores India’s unwavering commitment to remaining First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region,” the Navy said.

“The Indian Navy stands committed to safeguarding seafarers, protecting vital maritime trade routes and ensuring a safe, secure and stable maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region,” it added.

In a social media post, the Iranian Embassy said: “We highly commend the professionalism, courage and effective coordination demonstrated by the Indian armed forces, reflecting India’s strong commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and its role in saving lives beyond borders.”

“This humanitarian operation stands as a testament to the spirit of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Iran and India,” it said.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to all those involved in ensuring the safe rescue of the Iranian crew,” it added.