Iran has thanked the Indian government and armed forces for rescuing all 20 crew members of its fishing vessel Azini after it was hijacked by Somali pirates, describing the operation as an example of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The rescue mission, conducted around 3,000 km from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, involved the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF) and lasted more than 48 hours. The crew were rescued on Monday without any casualties or injuries.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Iranian embassy in New Delhi expressed its “sincere gratitude” to the Indian government, Navy and Air Force for the successful operation.
“This humanitarian operation stands as a testament to the spirit of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Iran and India,” the embassy said.
“We highly commend the professionalism, courage and effective coordination demonstrated by the Indian Armed Forces, reflecting India’s strong commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and its role in saving lives beyond borders,” it added.
How Indian forces carried out the rescue
The fishing vessel was seized by armed Somali pirates on October 29, between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun off northeastern Somalia. The Indian Navy said the hijacking posed a serious maritime security threat because the pirates could have used Azini as a “mother ship” to launch further attacks on merchant vessels in the region.
Responding to the incident, the Navy deployed a mission-ready warship, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The platforms conducted persistent surveillance, located the vessel and tracked its movements before using calibrated non-kinetic measures to restrict its movement and prevent it from escaping.
Marine commandos were subsequently deployed through a precision airdrop carried out by an IAF C-17 aircraft. The Navy then launched a coordinated tactical intervention, secured the vessel and overcame the pirate threat, ensuring the safe release of all 20 crew members.
Photographs released by the Defence Ministry showed INS Kolkata, a stealth destroyer, participating in the operation. The mission demonstrated the coordination between naval forces, aerial surveillance and the Air Force in responding to a maritime emergency far from India's coastline.
The Navy described the operation as evidence of its high operational preparedness and ability to conduct complex maritime security missions through coordination between the armed forces. It also reiterated India's commitment to remaining a first responder and preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
Rajnath Singh praises Navy and Air Force
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the armed forces for the operation, describing it as “meticulously coordinated”.
“The swift localisation, interception and safe release of the crew and vessel from significantly-armed pirates, with timely support from the Indian Air Force, speak well of the Indian Navy’s high operational readiness and ability to respond decisively to maritime threats across the region,” Singh said in a social media post.
He added, “Our brave personnel have once again demonstrated India’s ability, intent and resolve to safeguard lives, uphold maritime security and ensure stability across the Indian Ocean Region.”
The Navy said the mission reinforced its commitment to protecting seafarers, securing vital maritime trade routes and maintaining a safe and stable maritime environment across the Indian Ocean.
Indian Navy's anti-piracy patrols
The operation comes amid renewed concerns over Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and parts of the western Indian Ocean, where commercial vessels remain vulnerable to attacks.
The hijacking of Azini raised concerns that the vessel could be used to extend pirate operations farther into busy international shipping routes. Such vessels can serve as offshore bases from which pirates launch attacks on merchant ships.
The resurgence has been reflected in a series of hijackings in recent months. Six commercial vessels were reportedly seized between April and August 2026, while the September recovery of the tanker MT Honour 25 followed the killing of five crew members by pirates, according to reports.
India has maintained at least one warship on round-the-clock anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since October 23, 2008. The deployments are intended to protect Indian maritime trade, reassure the seafaring community and deter pirate attacks.
The successful rescue of Azini's crew underscores the Navy's continuing role in responding to maritime security threats across the Indian Ocean, including incidents involving foreign vessels and crew members.