Somali pirates have seized an Eritrean-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Yemen that is believed to be part of Iran’s “shadow fleet.” It is the second vessel seized in four days.
At least 17 piracy incidents were recorded in the region during the first five months of 2026, which experts describe as the largest surge in piracy there in a decade.
Years after an international naval campaign largely curbed piracy, analysts say the US-Iran war, the broader conflict in the Middle East, including naval blockades and fighting along key shipping routes, and economic hardship among local fishermen have created the conditions for a resurgence.
The number of incidents began to decline partly due to NATO and EU naval operations, while ships also began sailing farther from the Somali coast.
Piracy off Somalia has been a major problem in the Red Sea region for decades, peaking around 2010, when pirates seized hundreds of vessels and forced shipping and insurance companies to pay billions of dollars in ransoms.
Incidents later declined, partly due to international naval operations involving NATO and the European Union. Ships also began sailing farther from the Somali coast and using protective measures such as water cannons.
Source: The New York Times
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