Pirates Hijack Iranian Fishing Boat off Puntland Coast
The European Union Naval Force and security sources in the Puntland region have reported that the Iranian fishing boat “Azini” was hijacked on the fifth day of October along the coast between the towns of Bandar Bila and Hafun. The vessel was seized at 9 a.m. international time by armed pirates.
According to reports, eight armed individuals launched the hijacking operation from a remote shore near Bandar Bila. Two Somali guards on board the ship were unable to protect it against the attackers due to being outnumbered, allowing the pirates to overpower them. At the time of the hijacking, the crew were fishing near the coastline, which made them vulnerable.
Another security source added that in addition to the two guards, twenty-one crew members were on the ship, but their safety status remains unknown. Gradually, four more armed individuals joined the pirates, bringing the total number of attackers to twelve.
This incident occurs amid widespread insecurity along Somalia’s coasts and existing restrictions in the Puntland region, which have complicated efforts to combat piracy and safeguard commercial and fishing vessels. The rise in pirate activity poses a serious threat to maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
