In a chilling development, pirates have hijacked an oil tanker named Honour 25 that was sailing near the Somali coast. Reports from several security officials relay that the vessel, which had 17 crew members, was overrun late on Wednesday by a group of six armed men approximately 30 nautical miles offshore.
Until three years ago, this part of the Indian Ocean was notorious for hijackings but had seen a sharp drop in piracy activity thanks to international military interventions. However, recent incidents suggest that piracy is on the rise again, with fishing trawlers and container ships increasingly being targeted.
The Honour 25 was reportedly carrying 18,500 barrels of oil and was en route to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, when it was seized. This latest piracy act has heightened anxieties in Mogadishu, where fuel prices have already surged threefold since the onset of the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran.
After originating from Berbera port in Somaliland on February 20 and later navigating towards the United Arab Emirates, the tanker ultimately altered course towards Mogadishu, indicating possible premeditated intent behind its hijacking.
Now under pirate control, the ship has anchored near the Somali coast between the towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla, with security officials noting that five more armed individuals boarded the tanker following the initial hijackers.
Authorities are unsure how the pirates managed to intercept the Honour 25. So far, neither the Somali regime nor the European Naval Force responsible for anti-piracy actions in the region has made any official comments regarding the incident.
