In a stark reminder of the region’s tumultuous past, suspected Somali pirates have hijacked a Yemeni fishing vessel off the coast of the Horn of Africa. The unsettling incident unfolded near the coastal town of Eyl, as authorities confirmed the attack late Monday.
The European naval mission, EUNAVFOR Atalanta, is currently investigating the incident. According to reports from the maritime security firm Ambrey, the attackers made off with three small boats, each outfitted with powerful 60-horsepower engines. The firm also noted that a suspected pirate group was spotted making its escape from the area.
Piracy off the Somali coast reached alarming heights in 2011, with 237 attacks reported that year alone, costing the global economy an estimated $7 billion, including $160 million in ransom payments. However, a concerted effort involving increased international naval patrols and a strengthening central government in Mogadishu had subdued these threats—until now.
In recent months, piracy has surged once more, driven in part by the instability stemming from Yemen’s Houthi rebels and their activities in the Red Sea, exacerbated by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The International Maritime Bureau reported seven piracy incidents off Somalia in 2024, signaling a troubling trend that could threaten maritime security in the region once again.
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