Rescue Operation Saves Sri Lankan Trawler from Somali Pirates

Six crew members of a Sri Lankan fishing trawler hijacked by suspected Somali pirates have been rescued, raising fears of a resurgence of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea waters. The hijacking was the latest in a series of attacks, with pirates taking advantage of unrest caused by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group. Authorities were alerted to the incident by a second boat traveling with the trawler, and the Seychelles Coast Guard responded, ultimately rescuing the entire crew and arresting three suspected Somali pirates.

The rescue occurred approximately 230 nautical miles from Mahe island in the Seychelles, with the Maltese flag MV Ruen being held for a month and a half near the Somali coast. In a separate incident, a security team on a bulk carrier off Somalia’s coast exchanged fire with armed individuals on a boat after it suspiciously approached the ship. The spate of recent piracy incidents has raised concerns about the safety of major waterways, with fears of a resurgence in Somali piracy after years without a successful raid.

The situation has prompted increased vigilance and a professional response from authorities, with the Seychelles Coast Guard and British sea observers taking action to ensure the safety of ships and their crew members in the region.

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