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An oil tanker hijacked off coast of Yemen has reignited fears of a widening piracy crisis, as Somali gunmen seized control of a commercial vessel in the strategically vital Gulf of Aden, according to multiple regional security officials.

The tanker, identified as MT Eureka, was reportedly overtaken early Friday morning near the Yemeni port of Qana. Authorities say the vessel is now navigating waters between Yemen and Somalia, with expectations it will soon anchor along the Somali coast.

How the Hijacking Unfolded

Security officials from Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia, said the attackers launched their operation from a remote coastal zone near Qandala, a seaside town overlooking the Gulf of Aden.

The assault occurred around 5:00 a.m. local time, when armed pirates boarded and overwhelmed the ship. At the time of the hijacking, MT Eureka was sailing under the flag of Togo.

The Yemeni coastguard earlier confirmed the seizure, noting the vessel’s course had shifted toward Somali waters following the attack.

A Pattern of Escalation

This latest incident marks the second oil tanker hijacking in just 10 days. On April 22, Somali pirates captured the vessel Honor 25, which was transporting 18,500 barrels of oil bound for Mogadishu.

With four successful hijackings reported in the past two weeks alone, maritime security experts warn that piracy is rapidly expanding along Somalia’s extensive coastline—the longest in mainland Africa, stretching more than 3,300 kilometers.

Separate Incident Raises Alarm

In a related development, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that armed individuals aboard a small skiff approached a bulk carrier near Al-Mukala, Yemen, on Friday.

Officials said those attackers also departed from a remote coastal area near Caluula, a fishing town roughly 209 kilometers from the launch point used in the MT Eureka hijacking—suggesting coordinated or parallel activity along the coast.

Security Vacuum Fuels Pirate Resurgence

Once largely suppressed after peaking in the early 2010s, Somali piracy has resurged sharply since late 2023. Analysts attribute the revival in part to shifting military priorities, as international naval forces redirected resources to counter attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

This diversion has created gaps in maritime security—gaps that pirate groups appear to be exploiting with increasing boldness.

Despite the growing threat, neither Somali authorities nor the European Union Naval Force have issued formal statements on the latest hijacking.