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Indian Navy Frees 20 Crew From Hijacked Iranian Fishing Boat Off Somalia

Written by TNNBot on

The Indian Navy freed 20 crew members from the Iranian fishing vessel Azini during a more-than-48-hour rescue operation that ended Monday, November 2, 2026, off Somalia near Bandar Bayla and Hafun.[1]

The Defense Ministry said the operation used an Indian warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft and marine commandos, with additional commandos airdropped by an Indian Air Force C-17.[1] A Puntland Maritime Police Force official said Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates, confiscated their phones and released the suspects.[1] The official said the suspects and two Somali security guards later came ashore at Bandar Bayla.[1]

The Iranian fishing vessel Azini was hijacked on October 29, 2026, between Bandar Bayla and Hafun off Somalia.[1] The incident comes amid a renewed wave of Somali piracy and adds to shipping risks in a region already disrupted by the Iran war and Houthi threats, lengthening voyages and raising tanker costs.[1]

The operation underscores rising international naval responses to piracy as regional conflicts complicate commercial shipping.

  1. NPR
Maritime Security and Piracy Global Oil and Shipping Routes
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📌 Key Facts

  • The Iranian fishing vessel Azini was hijacked on October 29, 2026, between Bandar Bayla and Hafun off Somalia.
  • India's Defense Ministry says naval forces completed a more than 48-hour rescue operation on Monday, November 2, 2026, freeing 20 crew members.
  • The operation used an Indian warship, a maritime surveillance aircraft, marine commandos, and additional commandos airdropped by an Indian Air Force C-17.
  • A Puntland Maritime Police Force official said Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates, confiscated their phones and released them, and that the suspects and two Somali security guards came ashore at Bandar Bayla.
  • The incident comes amid a renewed wave of Somali piracy and adds to shipping risks in a region already disrupted by the Iran war and Houthi threats, lengthening voyages and raising tanker costs.

📰 Source Timeline (1)

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November 03, 2026
2:13 PM
Indian navy rescues 20 crew from Iranian fishing boat hijacked off Somalia
NPR by The Associated Press