Indian Navy rescues 20 Iranian crew members of Azini fishing boat hijacked by Somali pirates after 48-hour operation

The Iranian Embassy in India has thanked the Indian Navy for its swift operation that rescued a hijacked fishing vessel with 20 crew members off the coast of Somalia on Monday. “The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of India, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force for their successful operation to rescue 20 Iranian crew members of the fishing vessel Azini from pirates,” the Iranian mission said in a post on social media.

How an Indian saved a hijacked fishing boat

The Azini fishing vessel was reportedly hijacked by an armed pirate group early last month off the northeast coast of Somalia. In response to the situation, the Indian Navy tasked a deployed warship with a mission to intervene, supported by a naval reconnaissance aircraft.

“These platforms, working in close coordination, located the vessel after continuous tracking, tracked its movements and used calibrated non-kinetic measures to limit its movement and prevent its escape,” the Navy said in a statement.

It said the naval commandos were deployed through a precision airdrop by an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft.

“The Indian Navy conducted a swift and well-coordinated tactical intervention, secured the vessel, defeated the piracy threat and secured the safe release of all 20 crew members,” the navy said.

She described the “successful operation” as a “testimony” to the Indian Navy’s high operational readiness and ability to conduct complex maritime security operations through “seamless inter-agency coordination”.

“Testimony of the Spirit of Friendship”

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

Expressing its gratitude for the successful rescue of the Iranian crew, the embassy said, “This humanitarian operation is a testament to the spirit of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Iran and India.

The return of Somali piracy

The Azini hijacking was the latest in a series of attacks by Somali pirates in 2026 amid fears of a return of piracy on the high seas after nearly a decade.

So far in 2026, Somali pirates have hijacked at least 8 vessels and carried out approximately 15 attacks or seizures, the highest number since 2013.

A combination of factors have been blamed for the resurgence of Somali piracy in 2026, including a shift in focus to threats in the Red Sea by international maritime patrols, the Iranian conflict and instability in Somalia.