Armed Men Seize Oil Tanker off Yemen, Divert Ship Toward Somalia

6 armed men boarded an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen on Thursday and took control of the vessel, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The agency said the ship altered its course and is now heading toward Somalia after the assailants seized it in the Gulf of Aden.

UKMTO noted that the tanker had issued a distress call reporting the approach of an “unauthorized vessel” before the boarding took place.

The exact timing of the hijacking remains unclear. UKMTO urged ships transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.

The incident highlights renewed concerns over maritime security in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, where piracy and armed attacks have periodically disrupted international trade.