Oil tanker hijacked off Yemen coast and diverted to Somalia

WEB DESK: An oil tanker was seized by Somali pirates off the coast of Yemen on Saturday, marking the third such abduction in the region within recent weeks.

Yemen’s Coast Guard confirmed that unidentified individuals boarded the Togo-flagged vessel, named the Eureka, and forced it through the Yemeni portion of the Gulf of Aden toward the Somali coast.

On Sunday, Somali authorities confirmed the vessel had been diverted into their waters. Efforts are currently underway to monitor the situation and recover the ship, according to Al Jazeera.

Resurgence of piracy fears

This latest hijacking is seen as a significant embarrassment for the Somali government in Mogadishu and suggests a worrying resurgence of piracy in the Horn of Africa.

The timing is particularly critical as the Red Sea has become an even more vital route for global shipping following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to conflict in Iran.

This spike in activity has raised international concerns regarding the safety of these essential maritime corridors.

Vessel held for ransom

The hijacked tanker is reportedly being held for ransom off the coast of Puntland. According to Abshir Hashi Ali, director general of the ministry of ports in Galmudug State a region bordering Puntland the vessel and its crew are currently being detained.

This incident underscores the growing instability in the waters surrounding the Horn of Africa as piracy once again threatens international trade routes.