Somali Pirates Seize Iranian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker Amid Middle East Conflict
Somali pirates have made a resurgence in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean, taking advantage of gaps left by naval forces redeployed to the Middle East.
The group hijacked an Eritrean-flagged oil tanker on Friday, about 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen. The vessel was carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indian nationals, and is believed to belong to Iran's shadow fleet, which evades US sanctions.
The hijacking marks the sixth time this year that a merchant vessel has been seized in the region since April. Analysts point to escalating military tensions in the Middle East as a key factor in the resurgence of Somali piracy, with weakened anti-piracy operations and rising crude oil prices contributing to the trend.
The Gulf of Aden is a critical maritime trade route linking Europe and Asia, and analysts warn that continued expansion of Somali piracy could add another threat to global shipping lanes already destabilized by the Middle East conflict.