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Somali pirates hijack two commercial vessels near Yemen and Somalia
Pirates have hijacked two commercial vessels in separate incidents near Yemen and Somalia, involving a total of 22 Indian seafarers. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that all 22 Indian nationals on board are reportedly safe.
The first incident involved the Eritrea-flagged oil tanker M.T. Sibu 1 (also known as Seamull), which was seized by six armed individuals in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 30 to 136 nautical miles off the coast of Al Mukalla, Yemen. The tanker, which was previously sanctioned by the U.S. for its alleged role in Iran’s ‘shadow fleet’, is reportedly being redirected toward Somalia.
The second hijacking occurred on August 17 when pirates seized the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel M/V LUTUF off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region. The vessel was carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment, and satellite tools intended for a military training facility in Mogadishu. The crew of the M/V LUTUF included six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian, and two Serbian security guards.
These attacks signal a resurgence of Somali piracy, which maritime experts suggest is being fueled by regional instability and the diversion of international naval resources to address conflicts in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Entities
Al Mukalla · Gulf of Aden · Indian High Commission in Kenya · Indian Ministry of External Affairs · M.T. Sibu 1 · M/V LUTUF · MT Sibu 1 · Ministry of External Affairs · Polar Movement Shipping · Puntland · Seamull · Somalia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Brent crude oil prices rose above $91 per barrel following reports of the tanker seizure. de.rt.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The Seamull tanker (also known as SIBU 1) was sanctioned by the United States in December for involvement in Iran’s ‘shadow fleet’. portalportuario.cl · www.newindianexpress.com · www.marinelink.com · www.europesays.com · jornaldebrasilia.com.br · +1 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Six armed individuals boarded the Seamull tanker and are redirecting it toward Somalia. antiguatribune.com · www.charentelibre.fr · portalportuario.cl · www.newindianexpress.com · shabellemedia.com · +1 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] The M/V LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons and communications equipment intended for a military facility in Mogadishu. news.abplive.com · thefederal.com · www.varthabharati.in · vishwavani.news · odishabytes.com · +3 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The Cameroon-flagged cargo ship M/V LUTUF was hijacked off the Puntland coast of Somalia. news.abplive.com · thefederal.com · www.varthabharati.in · vishwavani.news · odishabytes.com · +6 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The crew of the M/V LUTUF included six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian, and two Serbian security guards. news.abplive.com · thefederal.com · www.varthabharati.in · vishwavani.news · odishabytes.com · +1 more
- [DISPUTED] The M.T. Sibu 1 tanker had 20 crew members on board, including 16 Indian nationals. www.dnaindia.com · www.varthabharati.in · vishwavani.news · kalingatv.com · odishabytes.com · +5 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The tanker seizure occurred approximately 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen. antiguatribune.com · www.charentelibre.fr · de.rt.com · portalportuario.cl · www.newindianexpress.com · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] A Turkish naval vessel reportedly conducted a strike near the hijacked Lutuf, killing four men. news.abplive.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] All 22 Indian seafarers on the hijacked vessels are reportedly safe. desitalkchicago.com · www.dtnext.in · news24online.com · madhyamamonline.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] A total of 22 Indian nationals are among the crews of the two hijacked vessels. desitalkchicago.com · www.dtnext.in · horseedmedia.net · madhyamamonline.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · +4 more