Ankara: Six armed men seized control of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen and redirected it toward Somalia, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said Thursday. The UKMTO reported on the US social media platform X that they have received confirmation of the boarding by these armed individuals, who are now directing the vessel towards Somalia.

According to Anadolu Agency, authorities are currently investigating the incident. The UKMTO has advised vessels transiting the region to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity. The agency had previously noted a distress call from a tanker on VHF 16, indicating an approach by an unauthorized vessel while traveling west in the Gulf of Aden.

As of 1145GMT, no information has been released regarding the identity or current location of the tanker, and no group has claimed responsibility for the incident. The regional maritime routes, particularly the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, have been experiencing increased tensions since the Yemeni Houthi group's announcement in July of a ban on vessels linked to Saudi Arabia.

In response, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a defensive maritime coalition aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This coalition includes the US, Yemen, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Sudan, Morocco, the Maldives, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government, while Iran faces accusations of supporting the Houthis, who have controlled several provinces, including the capital Sanaa, since 2014.

Piracy off Somalia's coast was widespread from 2008 to 2018 but had seen a decline until incidents began rising again in late 2023 amidst heightened regional security tensions.