Indian Navy Rescues 20 Crew from Hijacked Vessel off Somalia in Long-Range MARCOS Operation

The Indian Navy has rescued 20 crew members from the hijacked Iranian fishing vessel Azini off the coast of Somalia following a coordinated maritime security operation involving the Indian Air Force and MARCOS (Marine Commandos).

The vessel was hijacked by armed pirates on 29 October 2026. The operation involved an Indian Navy warship, maritime surveillance aircraft and MARCOS personnel, who were deployed through a precision airdrop from an Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the mission was conducted on the intervening night of 1–2 November, more than 3,000 km from Mumbai. The C-17 mission covered over 6,000 km and involved more than eight hours of flying, demonstrating India's capability to deploy specialised forces over extended maritime distances.

The commandos secured the vessel, neutralised the pirate threat and rescued all 20 crew members. The operation was completed without casualties among the rescued crew.

Beyond the rescue, the operation demonstrates India's expanding maritime reach.

The use of strategic airlift capabilities alongside naval warships and maritime surveillance assets provides the Indian Navy with greater operational flexibility against piracy far beyond India's coastline.

This is not the first such deployment. In March 2024, an IAF C-17 aircraft air-dropped MARCOS personnel and combat boats during the rescue of the hijacked merchant vessel MV Ruen, approximately 2,600 km from the Indian coast. That operation resulted in the surrender of 35 Somali pirates and the safe recovery of 17 crew members.

The latest operation reinforces India's position as a key maritime security provider in the western Indian Ocean, where the resurgence of Somali piracy remains a concern for international shipping.