Somali piracy surges as the impact of the US-Iran war ripples outwards
Two ships were seized within four days last week raising to at least 13 the number attacked since January.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has intensified, influenced by the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. In the Gulf of Aden, two cargo vessels were hijacked within four days last week, leading to a total of at least 13 ships attacked since the beginning of the year. The situation has escalated to include drone strikes against the pirates, marking the biggest surge in hijackings in over a decade.
Omar Mahmood, a senior Somalia analyst for the International Crisis Group, attributes this increased opportunity to the impact of the war on regional waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb. The Houthis, allies of Iran in Yemen, have imposed a blockade in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, further endangering maritime security.
This has resulted in a resurgence of piracy, with ships being targeted more frequently due to a combination of less naval patrolling and an abundance of lucrative targets. While Turkey is rumored to have a stake in the latest hijackings, as the MV Lutuf was reportedly carrying weapons bound for a Turkish military facility in Somalia, an official denied any involvement, stating that the men killed were criminals.
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