Indian navy frees hijacked Iranian fishing crew off Somalia
Operation lasting over 48 hours results in the release of 20 crew members and the disarmament of 12 suspected pirates.
Quick Look
- Indian naval forces rescued an Iranian fishing boat, the Azini, and its 20-member crew in the Arabian Sea.
- The operation, which lasted over 48 hours, involved disarming 12 suspected Somali pirates more than 3,000km from Mumbai.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The incident occurs amidst a resurgence of Somali piracy across the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.
Indian naval forces freed an Iranian fishing boat and its crew of 20 hijacked off Somalia after an operation lasting more than 48 hours, India’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.
The rescue of the Azini was completed on Monday in the Arabian Sea, more than 3,000km (1,860 miles) from Mumbai, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.
An official with the Puntland Maritime Police Force said Indian forces disarmed 12 suspected Somali pirates, confiscated their mobile phones and released them. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Open Questions
- What is the current status of the 12 disarmed individuals?
