By Asha Elmi - Reporter
DUBAI, October 1, 2026 - The United Arab Emirates condemned the deaths and injuries of crew members aboard the hijacked oil-products tanker MT Honour 25 during an operation to free the vessel off the Somali coast, the UAE Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
The tanker was freed on Tuesday during an operation in the Dharin-Bar area of Puntland’s Bandar Beyla district, according to Puntland authorities.
Five crew members were killed and four others injured during the operation, according to Puntland authorities. The crew was made up of nationals from several countries and the victims were not reported to be Emirati nationals.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the deaths and injuries represented a serious threat to maritime security and the safety of international trade routes.
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The ministry expressed solidarity with the families of those killed and injured and wished a speedy recovery to those wounded.
It also said maritime security was a key pillar of global economic stability and international trade, and renewed the UAE’s call for greater regional and international cooperation to protect commercial vessels, ensure the safety of maritime crews and maintain the security and stability of maritime navigation.
The MT Honour 25 had been hijacked off the Somali coast in April before being held by pirates until the rescue operation on Sept. 29.