Pirates Strike Again: 22 Indians Targeted in Gulf of Aden Hijackings

Two cargo ships, one bearing 22 Indian nationals, were hijacked this past week in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. The US-sanctioned tanker Seamull was boarded by armed individuals on August 20, 2026, off Yemen and diverted toward Somalia. Another cargo ship, flagged in Cameroon, was hijacked on August 17, 2026, with six Indians among its 10 crew members.

Piracy appears to be resurging, with over 17 incidents reported between January and May 2026. This rise is closely tied to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has redirected naval forces and created new windows of opportunity for pirate groups operating from Somalia. These groups are increasingly targeting vessels further into the Indian Ocean.

Historically, Somali piracy had cost the global economy an estimated $18 billion annually at its peak. However, intensified counter-piracy operations between 2013 and 2023 had drastically reduced successful hijackings. The current revival suggests a new era of piracy, potentially sustained by fragile local governance and harsh economic conditions driving individuals to maritime crime.