Indian Navy Rescues 20 Iranian Crew From Somali Pirates

The Indian Navy rescued 20 Iranian crew members of the fishing vessel Azini on November 2, 2026, following a coordinated 48-hour operation in the Arabian Sea. The vessel had been seized by Somali pirates on October 29 off the northeastern coast of Somalia, between Bandar Bayla and Hafun. The rescue took place more than 3,000 km from the Indian coast.

The operation involved the destroyer INS Kolkata, a maritime reconnaissance aircraft, and a precision airdrop of Marine Commandos via an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. Indian forces used non-kinetic measures to contain the vessel and captured a cache of weapons. Maritime security agencies had warned that pirates intended to use the Azini as a mother ship to launch further attacks on commercial shipping.

All crew members were liberated without casualties or injuries. The Indian Navy stated the mission demonstrates its operational preparedness and commitment to serving as a first responder in the Indian Ocean Region. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi expressed gratitude to the Indian government, describing the rescue as a testament to the friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The incident occurs amid a broader resurgence of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.