Pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with a crew of 17 while it was sailing near the Somali coast, as confirmed by multiple security officials.
The tanker, known as Honour 25, was overrun late on Wednesday by six gunmen about 30 nautical miles offshore. This incident highlights a troubling resurgence in piracy in an area that had seen a significant decline in such activities until three years ago.
The ship, which was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, set sail from Berbera in Somaliland on February 20 and was heading to Mogadishu, the Somali capital. Its capture is likely to exacerbate anxiety in the city, particularly as petrol prices there have tripled since the onset of the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Currently under the control of the pirates, Honour 25 has anchored near the Somali shore between the fishing towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla. Security officials from Somalia's Puntland region reported that the crew consists of 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan, and one Myanmar national.
Interestingly, five more armed men have reportedly boarded the ship since its initial hijacking. Officials suspect that the hijackers originated from a remote area near Bander Beyla, although the precise details of how they managed to seize control of the tanker remain unclear.
Neither the Somali authorities nor the European Naval Force, which monitors anti-piracy operations in Somali waters, have issued any statements regarding the hijacking as of yet.
