Pirates hijack two ships carrying 22 Indians near Yemen-Somalia

August 21, 2026

New Delhi: Pirates reportedly hijacked two commercial vessels in separate incidents near Yemen and Somalia. A total of 22 Indian nationals were on board. These incidents have once again raised concerns about maritime security around the Horn of Africa.

Ship hijacked near Yemen

The Eritrean-flagged oil product tanker M.T. Sibu 1 fell into the hands of six armed pirates about 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden.

A total of 20 crew members were on board, including 16 Indian nationals. According to maritime officials, all crew members are reported safe. However, more information regarding the current status of the vessel is awaited.

Second Ship Seized Near Somalia

In a separate incident, the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship M/V LUTUF was hijacked off the Puntland coast of Somalia. The ship was carrying 10 crew members, including six Indians. Turkish and Georgian nationals, and two Serbian security personnel, were also on board.

According to reports, the ship was towed to the Nugaal coast of Somalia. No further information has yet been released regarding the current status of the ship and its crew.

Both incidents have raised concerns about the renewed threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and around Somalia. This region is a vital sea route for international merchant vessels.