By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
Mogadishu, 21 August 2026 A tanker was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden after six armed men boarded the vessel and diverted it towards Somalia, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
The incident occurred about 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, while the vessel was sailing west through the Gulf of Aden. The tanker issued a distress call after reporting that an unauthorized vessel had approached it.
In a subsequent update, UKMTO confirmed that six armed individuals had boarded the tanker and taken control of the vessel before altering its course towards Somalia. The agency did not identify those responsible and did not provide details on the condition of the vessel or its crew.
Authorities are investigating the incident. UKMTO advised other vessels operating in the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
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The hijacking comes amid growing concerns over the resurgence of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia’s eastern coast.
In July, the tanker MT ASANA was seized near Yemen and diverted towards Somali waters. The incident forms part of a broader pattern of maritime attacks and hijackings reported in the region this year.
Maritime security assessments indicate that pirate groups operating from the Somali coast have demonstrated an ability to operate farther offshore, including across the Gulf of Aden. Analysts have linked the renewed activity to gaps in coastal security, regional instability and the diversion of international naval resources towards other threats in the Red Sea and surrounding waters.
However, UKMTO has not confirmed that the six armed men involved in the latest hijacking are Somali pirates. The identity and affiliation of the attackers remain under investigation.