The European Union has dispatched a warship to waters off Somalia after a suspected pirate group attempted to attack commercial vessels, maritime sources said on Wednesday.
The move follows an armed assault on a tanker near Mogadishu on Monday, when attackers opened fire after failing to board the ship — the first suspected Somali piracy attempt of its kind since 2024.
The resurgence of such activity has raised alarm for vital shipping lanes that carry global energy supplies and trade goods.
In a separate incident, a Seychelles-flagged fishing vessel was approached by a speedboat, while an Iranian boat was reportedly seized by unidentified assailants.
British maritime firm Vanguard suggested the captured fishing vessel may have been converted into a “mothership” to launch further attacks across the Indian Ocean.
The EU’s naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, confirmed it had deployed a warship to the area but declined to share details, citing security concerns.
British security group Ambrey said it was “highly likely” that a Somali Pirate Action Group was now active, operating more than 300 nautical miles off the Somali coast.
Analysts noted that the targeted vessels fit the traditional profiles of Somali pirate operations, which once terrorised regional waters before being largely suppressed a decade ago.
While Somali piracy had faded in recent years, instability in the region remains a breeding ground for maritime threats.
The renewed danger comes as Yemen’s Houthi rebels continue to disrupt Red Sea trade routes, forcing shipping companies to divert vessels away from the Gulf of Aden.
Though the Houthis recently pledged to halt attacks on U.S.-linked ships, many operators remain cautious, unwilling to test the fragile calm.