11 Iranians, 8 Pakistanis Rescued as Indian Navy Thwarts 4th Piracy Attempt in a Week

New Delhi: In yet another successful anti-piracy mission, the Indian Navy has rescued 11 Iranian and 8 Pakistani nationals who were held hostage by pirates off the coast of Somalia. This marks the fourth successful operation since January 28, 2024.

On January 31, a Predator UAV spotted the hijacked Fishing Vessel FV Omari in the region. The coordinates were relayed to the INS Sharada, a warship deployed for anti-piracy operations, which intercepted the vessel. The Iranian-flagged FV Omari had been boarded by seven pirates who were subsequently coerced by marine commandos from the INS Sharada.

The Navy highlighted three prior operations since January 28. On January 29, 19 Pakistani fishermen were rescued from a hijacked fishing vessel, and another vessel was saved through real-time surveillance by the Sea Guardian UAV. The INS Sumitra rescued the Iran-registered Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi and its 19 crew, while a multi-nation response led to the interception of the hijacked Sri Lankan fishing vessel ‘Lorenzo Putha 04’ by the Seychelles Coast Guard ship SCGS Topaz.

On January 28, the INS Sumitra thwarted a piracy attempt on the Fishing Vessel Iman, securing the release of its 17 Iranian crew members.

These successful operations showcase the Indian Navy’s commitment to combating piracy in the Arabian Sea, employing advanced surveillance technology and swift response tactics.