Somali pirates have hijacked an oil products tanker off Yemen, a Somali maritime security official said, in the latest incident in a renewed wave of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.
Six armed pirates seized the Eritrean-flagged M.T. Sibu 1 on Thursday, about 136 nautical miles (252 kilometres) east of al-Mukalla, Yemen, and took it toward Somalia’s Puntland coast, the official told The Associated Press on Friday.
The official, who has knowledge of the incident, spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
The Sibu 1 is managed by UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management. The US Treasury Department sanctioned the vessel last year, alleging that it was part of an Iranian “shadow fleet” used to transport petroleum products while avoiding US sanctions.
The tanker had 20 crew members aboard, including 16 Indians, one Syrian, one Sudanese and one Iraqi. The nationality of one crew member was not immediately known. The ship’s previous port and intended destination were also unclear.
The hijacking came just three days after pirates seized the Cameroon-flagged general cargo vessel Lutuf off Somalia’s coast.
The Lutuf had 10 crew members aboard, including six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards, according to maritime tracking reports.
The Sibu 1 is the sixth commercial vessel seized by Somali pirates since April 21, when the Palau-flagged tanker Honor 25 was hijacked off Somalia.
The pirates later seized the Sward on April 26, the Eureka on May 2, the Asana on July 17 and the Lutuf on Aug 17.
The recent attacks have taken place increasingly farther from Somalia’s coast. The Eureka was hijacked while anchored off Yemen, while the Asana was seized about 65 nautical miles (120 kilometres) southwest of al-Mukalla.
The International Maritime Bureau recorded 38 piracy and armed robbery incidents worldwide during the first half of 2026, including five hijackings. Somali pirates accounted for 94 percent of crew members taken hostage during the period, according to the bureau.
Puntland’s Security Ministry said Friday that its investigation suggested forces outside its control were behind the renewed piracy. However, it did not identify any group or country, and the claim could not be independently verified.
Puntland said it had deployed security forces along its coastline and condemned airstrikes that it said hit fishing vessels and property near coastal communities where hijacked ships were being held.
The ministry called on the countries involved to explain strikes reported near Garacad on Aug 18 and Aug 20.
It did not identify who carried out the strikes, and the allegations could not be independently confirmed.