Puntland Forces Retake Hijacked Tanker Off Somalia; Five Crew Members Killed by Pirates

Somali security forces have retaken a hijacked fuel tanker off the coast of Puntland, but not before pirates killed five crew members during the standoff, regional authorities confirmed Tuesday.

The MT Honour 25, carrying 18,500 barrels of oil and a crew of 17, was seized in April amid a recent uptick in piracy incidents off the semiautonomous region’s coastline. Following an operation on Tuesday, Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) officers secured the vessel and detained 16 suspected pirates, while at least 11 others managed to escape and remain at large.

The fatalities include three Pakistani nationals, one citizen of Myanmar, and one Indian national, according to a PMPF statement. Four additional crew members—three Pakistanis and one Indian—sustained injuries during the incident. The statement noted that the pirates had kept the crew supplied with food throughout the months-long hijacking.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life during the rescue operation. The successful intervention marks the latest in a series of anti-piracy actions undertaken by Puntland authorities along the strategic coastline.

In a related case last month, Puntland police responded to the hijacking of the oil tanker MT Eureka. In that instance, pirates ran the vessel aground and abandoned it, allowing the crew to disembark safely. The back-to-back incidents have reignited concerns over a potential resurgence of piracy off the Horn of Africa following years of relative decline.

Puntland officials have vowed to continue pursuing those responsible for maritime crimes and have called for sustained cooperation with international maritime security partners to secure the region’s waters.

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