In a move highlighting a significant escalation in regional security instability, the oil tanker M/T Eureka was hijacked by armed forces off the coast of Yemen’s Shabwah province on Saturday morning. Currently under the control of unidentified captors, the vessel is reportedly being driven toward the Somali coast. This has sparked deep concerns regarding a resurgence of Somali piracy, capitalizing on the “security vacuum” created by the ongoing war involving Iran.
According to the Yemeni Coast Guard, the M/T Eureka was swarmed in a rapid attack by armed forces while transiting the Gulf of Aden. After seizing the bridge and disabling the vessel’s tracking systems, the hijackers forced the ship to change course toward the Horn of Africa.
“We received an emergency report early Saturday morning stating that the Eureka had been boarded by armed forces,” a spokesperson for the Yemeni Coast Guard stated. “Although we immediately deployed patrol boats from Aden and Shabwah, our ability to intercept the vessel was severely limited by our constrained resources and the current regional instability.”
This hijacking marks the fourth similar incident in recent weeks. Maritime security analysts link this trend directly to the U.S.-Israel and Iran war. Since the conflict erupted on February 28, 2026, and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, international naval coalitions have shifted their primary focus northward.
The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which previously monitored piracy in the Gulf of Aden, has redeployed its destroyers, surveillance aircraft, and drones to monitor Iranian movements and enforce maritime blockades elsewhere.
” Pirates are opportunists,” says maritime security expert Daniel Tari. “When they see warships moving toward the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, they realize the ‘back door’ through the Gulf of Aden is wide open. The M/T Eureka is a victim of geopolitical distraction.”
The hijacking has sent shockwaves through the international shipping industry. With trade routes already diverted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and insurance premiums skyrocketing, the return of Somali piracy poses an additional threat to the world’s remaining oil supply.
In Somalia, the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) has been placed on high alert but has not yet established contact with the captors. Past experience suggests the vessel may be taken to pirate strongholds such as Eyl or Garacad to begin ransom negotiations.
As of Saturday evening, the safety status of the M/T Eureka’s crew remains unknown. The Yemeni government is reportedly coordinating with international partners to track the vessel via satellite. However, given the potential risk to the crew and the delicate ceasefire negotiations currently taking place between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad, the likelihood of a military rescue operation appears slim.
