The operation was carried out 3,000 km from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, the officials said.
The Indian Navy coordinated a 48-hour operation to rescue all 20 crew members of Iranian fishing vessel Azini on Monday, officials said. It was seized by Somali pirates on October 29.
The operation was carried out 3,000 km from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, the officials said.
The hijacking represented a significant maritime security threat, with the possibility of the vessel being employed as a ‘mother ship’ for launching further pirate attacks against merchant shipping in the region, the navy said on Tuesday.
“Responding to the situation, the Indian Navy tasked a mission-deployed warship to intervene, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Working in close coordination, these platforms located the vessel after persistent surveillance, tracked it’s movements and employed calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain its movement and prevent its escape,” it said in a statement.
The operation involved the dropping of marine commandos by an IAF C-17 aircraft.
“The successful operation is testament to the Indian Navy’s high operational preparedness and ability to undertake complex maritime security operations 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 added.
Rajnath Singh praises rescue operation
Union defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Navy for the “meticulously coordinated operation.”
“The swift localisation, interception and safe release of the crew and vessel from significantly-armed pirates, with timely support from the Indian Air Force, speak well of the Indian Navy’s high operational readiness and ability to respond decisively to maritime threats across the region,” Singh wrote on X.
My congratulations to #Indian Navy for successfully executing a meticulously coordinated 48-hour operation to rescue all 20 crew members of the pirated fishing vessel, Azini, more than 3000 km from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, on 02 Nov 26.
The swift localisation, interception and safe release of the crew and vessel from significantly-armed pirates, with timely support from the Indian Air Force, speak well of the Indian Navy’s high operational readiness and ability to respond decisively to maritime threats across the region.
Our brave personnel have once again demonstrated India’s ability, intent and resolve to safeguard lives, uphold maritime security and ensure stability across the Indian Ocean Region.
India continues to stand resolute in ensuring SAFE SEAS and a free, open and secure Indian Ocean Region.
#IndianNavy #IndianAirForce #SafeSeas
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 2, 2026
The Azini was hijacked between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun in northeastern Somalia, the Associated Press reported on Sunday.
“Our brave personnel have once again demonstrated India’s ability, intent and resolve to safeguard lives, uphold maritime security and ensure stability across the Indian Ocean Region,” Singh said.
At any given time, one Indian warship has been carrying out round-the-clock anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since October 23, 2008, to protect Indian sea-borne trade, instil confidence in the seafaring community and act as a deterrent for pirates.