Six armed Somali pirates hijacked the Eritrean-flagged products tanker Sibu 1 about 252 kilometers east of Yemen's al-Mukalla. The vessel was taken toward Puntland after the attack on Thursday.
The tanker carries 20 crew members: 16 Indians and sailors from Syria, Sudan, Iraq and one country not yet identified. Its United Arab Emirates manager has faced United States sanctions over allegations that the vessel belonged to an Iranian shadow fleet.
The seizure followed the capture of the Lutuf three days earlier and became the sixth commercial hijacking since April 21. The Honor 25, Sward, Eureka and Asana were also taken as pirate groups pushed operations farther from shore.
The International Maritime Bureau counted 38 piracy and armed-robbery incidents in the first half of 2026, including five hijackings. Somali pirates were responsible for 94% of crew members held hostage during that period.
Puntland deployed coastal forces and claimed outside actors were encouraging the resurgence, without presenting evidence. Its authorities also condemned unidentified airstrikes near Garacad, where hijacked ships had been held, as the security response grows more complicated.
