Navy frees Iranian fishing vessel Azini from Somali pirates in Arabian Sea, all 20 crew safe

The Indian Navy has freed the Iranian fishing vessel Azini from Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. All 20 crew members on board were also brought out safely. The location was more than 3,000 km from the Mumbai coast. The operation lasted about 48 hours and no one is reported to have lost their life.

According to official information, Azini was patrolling in Somali waters on October 29 when armed pirates targeted it and seized the vessel. There were 20 Iranian nationals on board at the time.

On receiving news of the hijacking, the International Maritime Security Centre and the Indian Navy went into action. A warning was also received that the pirates could use the vessel to attack other merchant ships. Navy warships and maritime surveillance aircraft then stepped up the search in the Arabian Sea.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) also supported the operation. The pirates were armed with highly dangerous, modern weapons, so every step had to be taken with great care. Navy warships surrounded the pirates' vessel from all sides, while Air Force aircraft kept watch over the entire area from above. After this 48-hour siege, the pirates had to surrender and the 20 crew members were freed.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Navy on November 2, 2026, in a post on the social media platform X. He wrote that the 48-hour operation to free all 20 crew members of the pirate-held fishing vessel Azini, more than 3,000 km from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, was carried out with very close coordination.

According to Singh, swiftly locating, intercepting and safely rescuing the vessel and crew from among heavily armed pirates, with timely Air Force assistance, shows the Navy's high level of preparedness and its ability to handle threats. He also wrote that the personnel had once again proved India's resolve to save lives, maintain maritime security and ensure stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The Indian Navy has been working continuously since October 23, 2008, to protect maritime trade in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. At least one Indian warship patrols this entire international sea route round the clock. The aim of the patrols is to instil a sense of security among the sailors of other countries' ships and to foil the pirates' designs.

Earlier, in March 2024, the Indian Navy had also rescued the hijacked vessel MV Ruen. On that occasion, 35 Somali pirates were forced to surrender.