Oil Tanker Hijacked Near Yemen, Attackers Divert Vessel Towards Somalia

An oil tanker was hijacked by unidentified armed men on Saturday in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen’s coastline, according to Yemen’s coast guard authorities. Officials said the vessel, identified as EUREKA, was intercepted near Yemen’s Shabwa province before the attackers boarded and seized complete control of the tanker. After taking over the ship, the group reportedly redirected it towards the Somali coast. Yemen’s coast guard, which functions under the internationally recognised Yemeni government, confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident. Authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to closely monitor the tanker’s movement and secure the safety of everyone onboard.

The coast guard said the exact position of the hijacked vessel has already been identified and security agencies are coordinating measures to recover the tanker safely. However, officials have not yet disclosed the number or nationality of the crew members present onboard at the time of the attack. Marine Traffic data revealed that EUREKA is a Togolese-flagged tanker designed for transporting oil products. The vessel was reportedly seen at Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates in late March before beginning its recent journey. Authorities remain cautious as maritime security threats continue to rise across the strategically important Gulf of Aden route.

Piracy off the Somali coast had become one of the world’s biggest maritime security concerns during the 2000s, with attacks reaching alarming levels in 2011 when hundreds of ships were targeted. International naval patrols and stronger security arrangements later helped reduce the threat significantly. However, recent reports indicate a fresh rise in pirate activities near Somalia and surrounding waters. The European Union naval mission, Operation Atalanta, confirmed that three separate maritime attacks were recorded during the final weeks of April. The mission’s Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean continues monitoring shipping routes amid growing fears of renewed instability in the region.

Shipping operations across the Gulf of Aden and nearby waters have also faced disruptions since February 28 due to tensions linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Despite the ongoing regional instability, officials have not established any direct connection between Saturday’s tanker hijacking and the conflict in the Middle East. Last month, another tanker was reportedly seized in the Gulf of Aden by a newly emerging pirate group operating from Garacad, a port town in Somalia’s Puntland region. Security experts believe the resurgence of piracy may once again pose a serious threat to global trade routes passing through the Indian Ocean and East Africa.