The Indian Navy rescued all 20 crew members of the Iranian fishing vessel Azini after an operation lasting more than 48 hours off Somalia, the Defence Ministry said on 3 November 2026.
The vessel had been hijacked by armed pirates on 29 October off Somalia’s northeastern coast. The Navy said the operation ended with the crew safely released and no casualties or injuries reported among them.
01. How the rescue operation unfolded
A mission-deployed Indian warship intervened with support from a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The platforms located and tracked the vessel through sustained surveillance and used calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain its movement. Marine commandos were reinforced through a precision airdrop by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. The Navy then secured the fishing vessel and released the crew.
02. Why the hijacking raised concern
The Defence Ministry said the hijacked vessel could potentially have been used as a ‘mother ship’ to support further pirate attacks against merchant shipping. Such vessels can extend the operating range of pirate groups and increase risks to commercial traffic in the western Indian Ocean.
The operation took place more than 3,000 kilometres from Mumbai, according to Hindustan Times. The ministry’s public statement did not detail the final disposition of the suspected pirates.
03. India’s maritime security role
The Navy described the mission as an example of coordination between the Navy and Air Force in a complex maritime security operation. The government said India remains committed to protecting seafarers and vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean Region.
04. What is confirmed
- Vessel: Iranian fishing vessel Azini.
- Hijacking: 29 October 2026.
- Location: Off Somalia’s northeastern coast.
- Rescue: All 20 crew members released.
- Operation: More than 48 hours, involving a warship, reconnaissance aircraft and Marine Commandos, with IAF support.
- Casualties: The Defence Ministry reported none among the rescued crew.
05. Related Images
06. Sources
- Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Defence — official statement, 3 November 2026.
- Hindustan Times — operation details, 3 November 2026.
- Associated Press via The Washington Post — independent reporting, 3 November 2026.
07. Related coverage
Read NewsY’s earlier report on the Indian sailor killed after a vessel was struck off Oman for another recent maritime security incident involving Indian seafarers. The incidents occurred in separate locations and have not been linked by authorities. Follow more India news.
