Somali pirates have hijacked an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen, in what security officials describe as a worrying resurgence of maritime attacks in the region.
The vessel, identified as MT Eureka, was seized in the early hours of Sunday near the Yemeni port of Qana at approximately 05:00 local time.
Authorities say the tanker is now being redirected towards Somali waters, where it is expected to anchor.
Officials from Yemen’s coastguard confirmed the incident, while security sources in Puntland reported that the attackers launched the operation from coastal near Qandala before intercepting the tanker.
The hijacking is the fourth successful attack within a two-week period, signaling a sharp increase in piracy along Somalia’s coastline. It follows a similar incident in April involving another tanker, Honor 25, which was reportedly carrying 18,500 barrels of oil.
In a related development, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) disclosed that armed individuals had earlier approached a bulk carrier near Al-Mukala, also in Yemen, though no boarding occurred.
Security analysts attribute the resurgence of piracy to shifting regional security priorities. Increased attacks by Houthi fighters in nearby waters have reportedly diverted international naval resources, creating vulnerabilities along the Somali coast.
A Puntland security official warned that pirate activity is expanding rapidly, noting increased movement of armed groups across coastal.
Somali piracy, which had significantly declined over the past decade due to international naval patrols, has shown signs of resurgence since late 2023, raising fresh concerns over the safety of one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
