Somali pirates resurge amid Middle East conflict, seize Iranian 'shadow fleet' tanker

Somali pirates, long suppressed by international naval patrols, are making a comeback under cover of the Middle East conflict. As naval forces from multiple countries have redeployed toward the region, gaps have opened in anti-piracy surveillance — and now even an oil tanker belonging to Iran's so-called shadow fleet, used to ship petroleum products in defiance of US sanctions, has been seized.

Six armed Somali pirates hijacked an Eritrean-flagged oil tanker on Friday about 136 nautical miles (252 kilometers) east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, according to foreign media reports.

The vessel was carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indian nationals. Its port of departure and destination have not been confirmed.

The tanker is believed to belong to Iran's shadow fleet — vessels used to transport Iranian petroleum products while evading US sanctions. Washington designated the ship last year for its involvement in shipping Iranian oil.

Somali piracy has rebounded sharply this year. Including Friday's seizure, six merchant vessels have been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean since April.

Analysts say the resurgence of Somali piracy — largely suppressed by sweeping international maritime enforcement — is rooted in escalating military tensions in the Middle East.

As the war surrounding Iran has dragged on, naval forces that once patrolled the Gulf of Aden have redeployed to the Middle East, leaving anti-piracy operations comparatively weakened.

Rising crude oil and raw materials prices are also cited as factors driving pirate activity. As the value of ships and their cargo has increased, so too has the potential ransom pirates can extract from hijackings.

The Gulf of Aden is a critical maritime trade route linking Europe and Asia, and analysts warn that a continued expansion of Somali piracy could add yet another threat to global shipping lanes already destabilized by the Middle East conflict.