Somali pirates have hijacked a fuel tanker, the Honour 25, which was transporting 17 crew members while navigating the Indian Ocean, according to security officials who spoke to the BBC. The vessel was captured late Wednesday night, approximately 30 nautical miles from the Somali coast by six armed assailants.
Officials from Puntland reported that the tanker was carrying a substantial cargo of 18,500 barrels of fuel. Although incidents of piracy off Somalia’s coast had significantly decreased over the past three years, recent months have seen a resurgence of attacks on fishing and commercial vessels, raising new concerns about maritime security in the region.
The timing of this hijacking is particularly critical, as the Honour 25 was en route to Mogadishu. Fuel prices in the Somali capital have surged threefold due to ongoing conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which have disrupted regional supply chains and heightened pressures on local markets. Analysts warn that this incident could exacerbate fears of fuel shortages and inflation in the city.
The Honour 25 had set sail from Berbera in Somaliland on February 20 and reached the United Arab Emirates before making its final approach to Mogadishu. As of now, authorities have not provided updates on the crew’s condition or any ransom demands related to the hijacking.
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