Somali pirates

The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker, was hijacked by Somali pirates in April 2026, leaving 17-19 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis, in critical condition due to lack of food, water, and medical supplies. The crew's company has provided no assistance, and negotiations for a $3 million ransom remain stalled.

A Tanzanian-flagged tanker was hijacked by suspected Somali pirates off Yemen’s coast, according to security sources and local officials. The incident occurred near Yemen’s coastline, with no additional details provided about the vessel or crew.

A Tanzanian-flagged tanker, MT ASANA, was hijacked by seven suspected Somali pirates off Yemen’s coast and moved to waters near Somalia’s Bari region. The vessel, en route from Mukalla, Yemen, transmitted a distress signal and traveled at an unusually slow speed before being held off Caluula in Puntland’s Bari region. Details about crew numbers or injuries remain unclear.

A chemical tanker was boarded by an armed group off Yemen's coast, with the British military reporting the incident and suspecting Somali pirates. The vessel, en route to Somalia, issued a distress call, prompting a Korean naval vessel to assist. Recent attacks in the region include a suspected pirate incident near Yemen and an EU-Djibouti deal to strengthen Red Sea security against Houthi threats.

Somali pirates are resurging with recent hijackings of three merchant vessels off the Horn of Africa. The multinational naval coalition that previously combated piracy has diminished, leaving the threat unaddressed. Piracy had been dormant since 2016 but is now re-emerging.

A cargo ship was attacked in the Red Sea off Yemen's coast near Hodeida, controlled by Houthi rebels, by unknown armed assailants. The ship's security guards returned fire after a skiff approached and opened fire, with the attackers fleeing to a larger vessel. The crew and ship were reported safe, and no group has claimed responsibility.

A cargo ship reported being under attack by unknown armed assailants in the Red Sea off Yemen's coast, according to the British military. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed the incident, with no group yet claiming responsibility. Houthi rebels in Yemen have threatened to resume attacks, while Somali pirates have been active in the Gulf of Aden.

A cargo ship reported being under attack by unknown armed assailants in the Red Sea off Yemen, according to the British military. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed the attack, while Yemen’s Houthi rebels have threatened to resume attacks but have not yet acted. Somali pirates remain active in the Gulf of Aden.

Ten Pakistani sailors aboard the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates two months ago, remain in captivity as their families protest the government's inaction. The government refuses to negotiate with pirates, citing international jurisdiction, while the crew faces deteriorating health due to lack of food, water, and medical supplies.

Negotiations to free eight Egyptian sailors held by Somali pirates collapsed after the kidnappers withdrew from a preliminary agreement and demanded additional ransom payments. Officials confirmed the breakdown in talks over the ransom dispute.

Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry contacted Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Pakistan's envoy in Somalia to discuss the release of 11 Pakistani seamen kidnapped by Somali pirates on April 21. The government is coordinating with the Foreign Office and the ship owner, but the situation remains grave due to the ship's explosive cargo and logistical challenges.

The possible return of Somali pirates is creating a new challenge for the shipping industry, coinciding with existing concerns over the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

The article highlights the potential resurgence of Somali pirates as a new threat to the shipping industry, coinciding with existing concerns over the Strait of Hormuz crisis. This dual challenge could destabilize maritime trade in the region.

Families of 10 Pakistani crew members are demanding their release after being taken hostage by Somali pirates. The crew members were captured and are being held by the pirates. The families rallied in Karachi to demand their release.

Somali pirates have abandoned a hijacked UAE dhow due to dwindling supplies. The dhow, named Fahad-4, was used as a mothership to attack other ships after being hijacked in late April. This development marks a significant shift in the pirate's activities.

Somali pirates, who peaked in 2010 and disappeared by 2013, are reported to be resurfacing in 2026. This resurgence raises concerns about maritime security in the region.

Somali pirates have hijacked and harassed ships off the coast of Somalia, holding over a dozen sailors, mostly from Pakistan, as the US-Israeli war on Iran diverts naval forces.