Indian Navy Rescues Crew of Iranian Vessel from Somali Pirates

The Indian Navy successfully rescued the 23-member crew of an Iranian fishing vessel seized by armed pirates off the coast of Somalia, as announced by naval authorities.

On March 28, the Al-Kambar 786 was boarded by nine pirates southwest of the Yemeni island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea, according to a naval statement released on Friday.

Indian Navy vessels INS Sumedha and INS Trishul intercepted the vessel, employing “over 12 hours of intense coercive tactical measures” that compelled the pirates to surrender, as detailed in the release.

The nine pirates are being brought to India to face charges under domestic piracy laws applicable to offenses committed on the high seas, stated the navy in a separate announcement on Saturday.

The crew of the fishing vessel, composed of 23 Pakistani nationals, were confirmed safe and underwent medical checks before being cleared to resume fishing activities, according to the statement.

Piracy incidents in the vicinity of the Red Sea have resurged for the first time in nearly a decade.

Pirates have conducted or attempted more than 20 hijackings since November, taking advantage of Western forces’ focus on safeguarding shipping from attacks by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militants.

This surge has led to increased insurance and security costs, exacerbating the crisis faced by global shipping companies.