An armed group has hijacked an oil tanker off Yemen’s southern coast and redirected it toward Somali waters, Yemeni authorities announced over the weekend.
This is the fourth vessel hijacked in a less than two-week by an armed group, demonstrating surge in surge in piracy in recent times.
The vessel, identified as M/T EUREKA, was seized near the coast of Shabwa province, according to Yemen’s coast guard.
Officials said unidentified gunmen boarded the tanker and took control while it was transiting the area.
The vessel was later steered into the Gulf of Aden, apparently heading toward the waters off Somalia, raising concerns over maritime security along one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
Officials and maritime sources say the incident marks the fourth ship hijacked in the region by pirates in the past two weeks, signaling a possible resurgence after years of a decline in piracy.
Yemeni authorities said they are closely monitoring the vessel’s movements and working to determine its exact location.
Efforts are underway to secure the release of the tanker and ensure the safety of its crew, officials added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the hijacking, and the identity of the attackers remains unknown.
MG/as/APA