Indian Navy rescues off Somalia continued on Monday, when the fishing vessel Azini and all 20 of its crew were freed from armed pirates after an operation lasting more than 48 hours, over 3,000 km from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. The Navy said there were no casualties or injuries.

The guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata was tasked with the mission, defence sources said. Marine Commandos joined it through a precision airdrop from an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Navy on X, crediting the swift interception of the vessel and the timely support from the IAF. Naval personnel had once again shown "India's ability, intent and resolve to safeguard lives, uphold maritime security," he said.


Fishing vessel Azini was seized off Puntland on 29 October

The hijacking took place at about 0900 UTC on 29 October off Somalia's northeastern coast, according to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO), which supports the European Union's Operation Atalanta. Security officials in Puntland placed the seizure between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun.

Eight armed men boarded first and overpowered two Somali security guards, the officials said. Four more joined them later, taking the number of pirates to 12.

The fishing vessel Azini was reported to hold a licence issued by Puntland authorities. The officials said 21 Iranian crew and the two guards were on board, while the Navy and the Defence Minister put the number rescued at 20.

Azini moved east towards a shipping lane

The pirates took the vessel further out to sea.

MSCIO recorded it at 09°42'N 053°55'E on 30 October, and then at 09°47'N 055°45'E, roughly 100 nautical miles further east and approaching a maritime traffic lane. The safety of those on board was listed as unknown, and Operation Atalanta opened an investigation.

Both MSCIO and the Navy flagged the same concern, that the hull could be used as a mother ship for attacks on merchant vessels. A mother ship lets pirates operate far from shore, beyond the reach of small skiffs. No attack from the Azini has been reported. In March 2024, according to reports at the time, pirates used another hijacked Iranian fishing vessel to seize the Bangladeshi merchant ship MV Abdullah.

INS Kolkata contained the vessel before the commandos arrived

The warship worked with a maritime reconnaissance aircraft to locate the Azini after persistent surveillance and track its movements, the Navy said. The two platforms then used "calibrated non-kinetic measures" to contain the vessel and prevent its escape. Defence sources said the air effort included a P-8I and a Sea Guardian drone.

The C-17 brought in additional Marine Commandos, known as MARCOS, in what the Navy called a precision airdrop. In a tactical intervention, the Navy secured the vessel, overcame the pirate threat and ensured the safe release of the crew.

Photographs from the operation show assault rifles, magazines, ammunition boxes and rocket-propelled grenade rounds laid out on the deck. The Defence Minister described the pirates as heavily armed.

Shipping industry reports said the pirates were captured. The Navy's statement covered the crew and the vessel.

The Navy said the operation was testament to its high operational preparedness and its ability to undertake complex maritime security operations through seamless inter-service coordination. It described India as a First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.

INS Kolkata and the C-17 ran a similar mission against MV Ruen in 2024

Indian Navy rescues have relied on this pairing before. The same warship and aircraft type worked together on the Navy's best known anti-piracy mission. In March 2024, INS Kolkata intercepted the pirate-held MV Ruen around 2,600 km from the Indian coast in an operation lasting over 40 hours. An IAF C-17 flew for almost 10 hours to drop two combat boats and MARCOS into the Arabian Sea.

All 35 pirates surrendered and the 17 crew were evacuated without injury. INS Kolkata then brought the pirates to India and handed them to the police in Mumbai on 23 March under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022.

Indian Navy rescues come amid a rise in hijackings off Somalia

Six commercial vessels were hijacked between April and August this year, according to reports. By August, more than 90 seafarers were being held captive across six merchant ships. The Azini was the third Iranian fishing vessel seized off Somalia since July, regional security officials said. In September, Puntland authorities said pirates had killed five crew members of the tanker MT Honour 25 before security forces recovered it.

Indian warships have answered several piracy calls in 2026. In June, INS Trikand responded to a likely attempt on MV Fareeda 5 in the Western Indian Ocean. The same frigate drove off a piracy bid in the Gulf of Aden in July, with marine commandos boarding the merchant ship.

The Navy also held command of Combined Task Force 154 from 11 February to 14 October, a tenure that included the first subject matter expert exchange on piracy and armed robbery.