In a daring rescue operation, India’s elite marine commandos, MARCOs, successfully saved all 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from the hijacked Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lili Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea. The crew, jubilant and chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy. The operation followed an attempt by around five to six armed pirates to hijack the bulk carrier.
Warship INS Chennai intercepted the vessel at 3:15 pm, and MARCOs commandos swiftly “sanitized” it, confirming the absence of hijackers. The crew had hidden in a safe room since the pirates boarded the ship the previous evening. The maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and drones were deployed to assist the vessel, which had reported the pirate presence.
The Indian Navy, responding to the hijacking attempt, diverted INS Chennai to support MV Lila Norfolk. The vessel is now under the navy’s watch, with ongoing efforts to restore power and propulsion, ensuring a safe journey to the next port of call. The rescue operation occurred amid heightened concerns over Houthi militants targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea during the Israel-Hamas conflict.