Gulf of Aden (HRNW)- Somali pirates have reportedly hijacked an oil tanker off the coast near Yemen, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region. According to media reports, the MT Eureka was seized and diverted toward Somalia after being captured near the port of Qana. Security officials in Somalia’s Puntland region, speaking to the BBC, said the tanker was taken by armed pirates operating from a remote coastal area near Qandala.
This marks the second such incident within 10 days, following the hijacking of the Honor 25 on April 22, which was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil bound for Mogadishu. Officials stated that the MT Eureka, which was sailing under the flag of Togo, was intercepted by armed men earlier in the day and is now reportedly moving through waters between Yemen and Somalia, with expectations that it may anchor in Somali territory soon.
In a separate development, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that armed individuals in a small boat approached a bulk carrier near Mukalla, Yemen, further highlighting rising maritime risks in the region.
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