Two Vessels Rescued from Somali Pirate Hijackings

Two fishing vessels, one belonging to Iran and the other to Sri Lanka, have been released after being hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

This Monday, Seychelles forces undertook the successful rescue of a Sri Lankan fishing boat, while the Indian Navy simultaneously confirmed the liberation of a fishing vessel flying the Iranian flag.

Somali pirates have once again resumed their pursuit of targets, while to the north in Yemen, the Houthis are actively targeting ships. This has led to a substantial interruption of marine traffic in the Red Sea.

From 2008 to 2012, piracy was widespread off the coast of Somalia, but it then remained dormant for approximately five years. In recent developments, Somali pirates have reemerged, seizing multiple vessels, including dhows, and subsequently targeting passing merchant ships to demand ransoms for the abducted crews.