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Somali pirates hijack Eritrea-flagged oil tanker off Yemen
Somali pirates have hijacked the Eritrea-flagged oil tanker M. T. Sibu 1 off the coast of Yemen, marking the sixth commercial vessel seized in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean since April 2026. The vessel, managed by the UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management, was diverted toward the Puntland coast of Somalia. The tanker carries 20 crew members, including 16 Indian nationals, one Syrian, one Sudanese, and one Iraqi.
The Sibu 1 was previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for its alleged role in an Iranian shadow fleet used to evade petroleum export restrictions. This hijacking follows the seizure of the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship Lutuf on August 17, which was carrying Turkish equipment.
Maritime experts note a resurgence in piracy, with 13 incidents recorded in the first seven months of 2026, a ten-year high. Analysts suggest that elevated oil prices and the diversion of international naval assets to address threats in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea may have created opportunities for pirate groups to operate with greater reach.
Entities
Iran · Iraq · M. T. Sibu 1 · Nizar Amedi · Puntland State · Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management · Sibu 1 · Somali pirates · Somalia · U.S. Treasury Department · United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Pirates hijacked the MT Sibu 1 near the Yemeni coast and redirected it toward the Puntland coast of Somalia. kienthuc.net.vn · thanhnien.vn
- [● 2 SOURCES] Iraqi President Nizar Amedi stated that Iran has facilitated the passage of Iraqi oil tankers through the strait recently. sinjali.com · thanhnien.vn
- [● 5 SOURCES] Six armed individuals boarded the Sibu 1, an Eritrea-flagged vessel, on August 20. 24-ore.com · aktuale.mk · www.arbresh.info · kienthuc.net.vn · thanhnien.vn
- [● 2 SOURCES] Iran has granted permission for Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following requests from Baghdad. sinjali.com · thanhnien.vn
- [DISPUTED] The Sibu 1 carries 20 crew members, including 16 from India, one from Syria, one from Sudan, and one from Iraq. kienthuc.net.vn · thanhnien.vn · axadletimes.com · timesofmiddleeast.com · dnyuz.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The Sibu 1 is at least the 13th vessel attacked this year near the Somali coast or in the Gulf of Aden. 24-ore.com · aktuale.mk · www.arbresh.info · kienthuc.net.vn · thanhnien.vn · +1 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Six commercial vessels have been hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean since April. thanhnien.vn
- [● 10 SOURCES] The US sanctioned the Sibu 1 in December, alleging it belongs to an Iranian shadow fleet used to evade oil export restrictions. 24-ore.com · aktuale.mk · www.arbresh.info · kienthuc.net.vn · thanhnien.vn · +5 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Pirates seized the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship Lutuf on August 17. axadletimes.com · vinnews.com · dnyuz.com · www.theyeshivaworld.com · www.latimes.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Six armed pirates hijacked the Eritrea-flagged M. T. Sibu 1 on Thursday near Yemen. axadletimes.com · timesofmiddleeast.com · vinnews.com · dnyuz.com · www.theyeshivaworld.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The Sibu 1 is the sixth commercial vessel hijacked by Somali pirates since April 2026. axadletimes.com · timesofmiddleeast.com · vinnews.com · dnyuz.com · www.theyeshivaworld.com · +1 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Puntland authorities condemned airstrikes near hijacked ships and demanded explanations from involved countries. vinnews.com