C-17 airdrop, marine commandos and Somali pirates: Inside India's daring 48-hour rescue mission

KOCHI: The Indian Navy has rescued 20 crew members of an Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by armed pirates off the coast of Somalia, completing an operation that lasted more than 48 hours. The vessel, named Azini, was successfully secured without any casualties or injuries among the rescued crew.

The fishing vessel was hijacked by an armed pirate group on October 29 off the northeastern coast of Somalia. The incident raised concerns that the pirates could use the vessel as a 'mothership' to launch further attacks against merchant ships operating in the region.

Responding to the threat, the Indian Navy tasked a mission-deployed warship to intercept the vessel, with support from a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Following sustained surveillance, the forces located the fishing vessel, tracked its movements and employed non-kinetic measures to restrict its movement and prevent its escape.

Marine Commandos were deployed through a precision airdrop conducted by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft. The Navy subsequently secured the vessel, overcame the pirate threat and ensured the safe release of all 20 crew members.

The operation demonstrated the Indian Navy's operational preparedness and its ability to undertake complex maritime security missions with support from other branches of the armed forces, the Defence Ministry said.