Deaths mark first known fatalities at the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade amid a regional resurgence of attacks.
Pirates killed five crew members aboard a hijacked oil tanker off the coast of Somalia before security forces from the semi-autonomous Puntland region rescued the vessel, authorities said on Tuesday.
The deaths occurred on the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25, which had been held by pirates since April. The Information Ministry of Puntland said a rescue mission freed the ship and captured 16 suspected pirates. “Before the operation began, the pirates on board the ship killed five of the crew,” the ministry stated. “Among those killed were three from Pakistan, one from Myanmar and one from India.”
Four other crew members-three Pakistanis and one Indian-were injured, according to the statement. The Puntland Maritime Police Force later confirmed that the vessel was “safe” and under government control, adding that efforts continued to locate others involved in the hijacking.
Somali Piracy Resurges After Years of Decline:
The MT Honour 25 was seized on 21 April roughly 30 nautical miles off Puntland’s coast while carrying about 18,500 barrels of oil and a crew of 17, including multiple Pakistani nationals. The hijacking formed part of a broader uptick in Somali piracy that has seen several vessels targeted in recent months.
Authorities described the killings as the first known deaths caused by Somali pirates in more than a decade. The earlier major wave of piracy, which peaked between 2008 and 2014, disrupted one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors, cost the global economy billions of dollars and generated hundreds of millions in ransom payments before being largely suppressed by international naval patrols and improved ship security measures.
The recent revival has been linked by some analysts to wider regional instability, including the effects of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran, which contributed to elevated oil prices and made tankers more attractive targets. Pirate groups have increasingly used captured fishing vessels and dhows as motherships to extend their reach farther offshore.
Tuesday’s operation followed another successful rescue the previous week, when Puntland maritime police freed the US-sanctioned tanker Sibu 1, which had been hijacked in August. Puntland forces also reported recovering a second vessel, the MT Eureka, after its captors fled as security personnel approached.
MT Honour 25 Crew Rescued After Five Months:
The MT Honour 25 had been held for more than five months. Reports from earlier in the captivity described deteriorating conditions on board, including limited food and health problems among some crew members. Ransom demands reportedly fluctuated during the standoff.
Survivors and rights groups have confirmed the nationalities of the dead and injured. Pakistani families of crew members had previously expressed deep concern over the prolonged captivity and the risks facing the sailors.
Puntland officials said the captured suspects would be brought before a court. The regional administration has vowed a tough stance against piracy, drawing parallels with its earlier campaigns against armed groups.
The incident underscores the persistent threat to commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean, even as local forces step up operations to reclaim hijacked vessels. International maritime organisations have noted a rise in attacks this year, the highest frequency recorded in more than a decade.