Increase in Somali piracy linked to US-Iran conflict
Piracy off Somalia’s coast has risen as tensions between the United States and Iran impact key regional waterways. Last week, two ships were hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, bringing the total number of pirate attacks this year to 13.
Omar Mahmood, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said pirates see an opportunity amid conflicts in vital waterways such as the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Strait of Hormuz. International forces have concentrated their efforts on these areas, allowing pirates to operate elsewhere.
On August 17, the MV Lutuf, flying the Cameroon flag, was seized off Puntland’s coast. An oil tanker, the MT Sibu 1, registered in Eritrea, was also captured near Yemen. There have been drone strikes targeting individuals allegedly supporting piracy. The Somali government has accused Turkey of involvement in these attacks.
The situation is complicated by many vessels approaching Somalia’s shores to avoid northern conflicts. This creates new opportunities for pirates to hijack high-value ships. Somalia and Turkey cooperate on maritime security, but accusations over drone strikes remain unresolved.
