Second tanker hijacked off Yemen coast by suspected Somali pirates in months

What happened

The BBC reports that Somali pirates have hijacked a tanker, identified by Puntland officials as the MT Asana, off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that a vessel was boarded by unauthorised personnel, advising other ships to proceed with caution in the area. Puntland security officials said the hijackers were seven gunmen who launched from near Garacad in Puntland and targeted the MT Asana, sailing under a Tanzanian flag en route to Bosaso.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. This incident marks the second confirmed hijacking in the region this year, following the seizure of the MT Eureka near the Yemeni port of Qana in May. Additionally, two other pirate boardings were reported in the Indian Ocean in April. The area has witnessed multiple unsuccessful pirate attacks recently, indicating a possible revival of maritime crime after a period of relative calm.

Piracy off the Somali coast had nearly disappeared after a sustained multi-navy security operation involving European Union Naval Forces and other international actors. However, the Gulf of Aden remains less heavily patrolled than the Indian Ocean, possibly providing newly accessible operational space for pirate activities, according to Puntland officials.

Known from the source

• A tanker was hijacked off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, confirmed by UKMTO and Puntland officials.
• The hijacked vessel is reportedly the MT Asana, a tanker sailing under a Tanzanian flag.
• Seven armed gunmen from Puntland are said to have seized the vessel after departing near the Puntland port town of Garacad.
• This is the second vessel hijacked near Yemen in three months, after the MT Eureka was seized in May.
• Several unsuccessful pirate attacks have also been reported recently in the Gulf of Aden and nearby Indian Ocean waters.

What remains unclear

The Gulf of Aden is a crucial route for shipping heading to and from the Red Sea, including commercial and humanitarian cargo bound for Yemen. Renewed piracy risks disrupting these shipments and exacerbating security concerns in an already unstable region.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify the vessel's identity as MT Asana and its flag state. Confirm precise location and timing of the hijacking incident. Check for any independent confirmation of pirate group involvement and size.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: BBC Middle East Yemen. Open the source.