Somali Piracy Resurges as 13 Vessels Attacked in 2026
Somali piracy is experiencing a significant resurgence, with at least 13 commercial vessels attacked or targeted off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden so far in 2026, according to data from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and reports by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). This marks a sharp reversal after years of relative calm, as only five such attacks were recorded in all of 2025.
The latest incident involved the Eritrea-flagged oil tanker Sibu 1, which was boarded and diverted toward Somalia on Thursday, according to the UKMTO. The tanker had been placed under US Treasury sanctions in December 2025 over allegations it is part of a shadow fleet helping Iranian petroleum products evade US sanctions. Six armed individuals carried out the seizure, the UKMTO reported.
Since April, at least six vessels have been hijacked. The Palau-flagged tanker Honor 25 was hijacked in April, marking the beginning of the recent spate, followed by the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged cargo ship Sword on 26 April, the Togo-flagged tanker Eureka on 2 May, the Tanzania-flagged tanker Asana on 17 July, and the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel Lutuf, which was attacked off Puntland on 17 August.
The resurgence has drawn international concern, particularly as it comes amid heightened maritime insecurity from the US-Iran war. The conflict has led to the diversion of naval assets to the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, where Iran and its Houthi allies have imposed blockades. Experts suggest that pirates may be exploiting the reduced naval presence.
"Piracy is always a crime of opportunity," said Omar Mahmood, a senior Somalia analyst for the International Crisis Group. "Right now the pirates see an opportunity."
Vice-Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, operation commander for the European Union's naval force protecting shipping off Somalia, echoed this, saying pirates likely believe international forces are focused on other crises.
The impact of the US-Iran war was also cited by researchers as a contributing factor. Elevated oil prices and the diversion of naval assets have created conditions conducive to piracy, experts said.
The recent hijackings have also triggered unexpected consequences. Thirteen men allegedly belonging to a network supplying pirates were killed in two drone strikes since 18 August, according to reports. No one has claimed responsibility for the strikes.
Puntland security sources and a Somali government official told the BBC that the Lutuf was carrying weapons bound for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. A Turkish defence ministry statement said its forces were providing 'necessary support' to Somali authorities but did not address the drone strike accusations. Puntland Deputy Minister of Security Abdirahman Yusuf said his administration had evidence Turkey was responsible for the attacks, and the Puntland security ministry issued a statement opposing 'bombings by international warships targeting civilians' that 'undermine co-operation in combating piracy'.
Experts have also noted longstanding links between Somali pirates and Yemeni criminal networks, including arms trafficking and human smuggling. Jay Bahadur, a researcher and co-director of the Scopus Insights consultancy, said the seizure of an Iran-linked vessel like Sibu 1 made him skeptical of direct Houthi involvement in the recent hijackings, but he added it was clear Somali pirates were receiving support from Yemeni nationals.
"You're having these traditional, longstanding relationships built around arms trafficking and human smuggling built up between Yemeni criminal actors and Somali criminal actors," Bahadur said.
Timothy Walker, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, noted that piracy was never fully eradicated. "The piracy was always suppressed. It was never really fully eradicated," he said.
The resurgence has raised concerns about the security of a region vital to international trade, and experts point to the failure to address root causes of piracy, including poor economic and security conditions in Somalia, as a key factor allowing it to re-emerge.