Indian Navy Rescues Crew from Hijacked Iranian Fishing Boat

• •Indian Navy rescued 20 crew members from the hijacked Iranian fishing boat Azini.
• •The operation involved tracking the vessel and disarming 12 suspected pirates.
• •The incident reflects a resurgence of Somali piracy, complicating regional shipping security.

The Indian Navy successfully rescued 20 crew members from the Iranian fishing boat Azini, which was hijacked off the coast of Somalia. The operation, lasting over 48 hours, involved disarming 12 suspected Somali pirates and securing the vessel in the Arabian Sea. The Azini was hijacked on October 29, and the rescue was completed on November 1, 2026. Indian forces tracked the vessel using a warship, surveillance aircraft, and marine commandos, with additional commandos airdropped from an Indian Air Force C-17. The operation reportedly ended without casualties, although the exact status of the crew and any injuries among the pirates remains unclear. This incident highlights a resurgence of Somali piracy, which has seen multiple commercial vessels hijacked in recent months, raising concerns about shipping security in the region affected by geopolitical tensions, including the Iran war.