Indian Navy rescues 20 crew from hijacked Azini off Somalia

The Indian Navy said it rescued all 20 crew members of the fishing vessel Azini and secured the ship after a 48-hour operation completed on November 2, following its seizure by pirates off Somalia. The Iranian vessel was hijacked on October 29 between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun in northeastern Somalia, according to a Puntland maritime security officer. The Indian Navy said the crew were rescued without casualties or injuries. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also credited the Navy and the Indian Air Force with the operation. The Navy said it deployed a warship and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft to locate and track the Azini. Marine Commandos were brought to the vessel by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft, according to the Navy. The operation secured both the ship and the 20 crew members, Indian officials said. The number of people aboard when the vessel was seized is not fully accounted for in the reports. A Puntland maritime security officer said the Azini carried 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali guards, for a total of 23 people. Indian accounts reported that 20 crew members were rescued; they did not clarify whether the guards were included in that...