Oil Tanker Hijacked Off Yemen Coast, Diverted Toward Somalia

ADEN, Yemen — An oil tanker has been seized by armed men off Yemen’s southern coast and diverted toward Somali waters, Yemeni authorities said Saturday, in an incident that points to a renewed stretch of piracy at sea.

The vessel, identified as M/T EUREKA, was taken near Shabwa province, according to Yemen’s coast guard. Officials said unidentified gunmen boarded the tanker while it was passing through the area and assumed control of the ship.

The tanker was then steered into the Gulf of Aden and appeared to be moving toward waters off Somalia, a development that has heightened concerns over security along one of the world’s busiest maritime lanes.

Officials and maritime sources said the seizure is the fourth ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the past two weeks, suggesting piracy may be reasserting itself in the region after years of decline.

Yemeni authorities said they are tracking the vessel’s movements closely and trying to establish its precise location. They added that efforts are under way to secure the tanker’s release and protect the crew.

No one has claimed responsibility for the hijacking, and the attackers’ identities remain unknown.

The Gulf of Aden is a vital passage for global commerce, linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and has long been regarded as vulnerable to piracy.

Authorities are expected to provide more updates as the situation unfolds.

AXADLETM