Somali pirates hijack oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden | News.az
In a bold maritime raid, Somali pirates have hijacked an oil tanker off the eastern coast of Yemen, triggering an urgent international response to track the stolen vessel as it steers toward East Africa.
The Yemeni Coast Guard confirmed that the oil tanker, identified as the ASANA, was ambushed and boarded by a group of armed pirates roughly 26 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen's Hadramout province. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had flagged trouble in the area earlier in the day, reporting that a ship transiting eastbound through the Gulf of Aden had been boarded by "unauthorized personnel" about 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, News.Az reports, citing Anadolu Agency.
According to naval surveillance, the hijacked tanker is moving slowly in a southeasterly direction, charting a direct course toward Somalia. Preliminary aerial reconnaissance reports indicate that heavily armed guards have already taken control of the ship, with at least one individual spotted keeping watch near the vessel's bridge.
RECOMMENDED STORIESThe hijacking has forced Yemeni authorities into an emergency scramble. The Coast Guard's operations center immediately established contact with international maritime coalitions patrolling the volatile shipping lane to verify the crew's condition and secure the area.
A combined military response is currently tracking the ship's movements. A Yemeni Coast Guard patrol boat and several international naval units are pursuing the ASANA, while military surveillance aircraft maintain a constant eye from above.
While the nationality of the tanker and its crew has not yet been disclosed, the attack marks a highly concerning flare-up of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden—a vital global shipping chokepoint that has already been plagued by regional security threats over the last few years. Authorities have stated they will continue to closely monitor the high-stakes situation as it unfolds.
By Aysel Mammadzada