NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s naval forces rescued an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates and freed its 19-member Pakistani crew off the east coast of Somalia, a navy assertion stated Tuesday.

The rescue operation was the third this week involving Somali pirates and got here a day after India’s forces freed another Iranian fishing vessel named Iman and its 17 crew members from Somali pirates in the identical waters. On Saturday, the Seychelles’ protection forces and coast guard rescued six Sri Lankan fishermen whose vessel had been hijacked by Somali pirates.

The Indian navy’s newest operation rescued the Iranian vessel Al Naeemi from the pirates late Monday. The ship intercepted the vessel and compelled the pirates to launch the crew and boat, which 11 Somali pirates had boarded, the assertion stated.

The navy didn’t instantly say what occurred to the pirates liable for the hijacking. But it posted photos displaying 10 pirates with their fingers tied behind them and armed Indian naval troops guarding them. Another picture confirmed some armed pirates on the vessel.

The piracy occurred in worldwide waters about 850 nautical miles (1,570 kilometers) west of the Indian coastal metropolis of Kochi.

Amid disruptions in world transport as a result of assaults by Yemen-based Houthi rebels within the Red Sea since November, the Indian navy has ramped up its deployment by sending three guided missile destroyers and reconnaissance plane to the huge Indian Ocean.

They have carried out a number of anti-piracy missions along with serving to no less than 4 service provider vessels that have been attacked within the excessive waters amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas.

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