An oil tanker subject to US sanctions was attacked on Thursday off the coast of Yemen, when six armed pirates took control of the vessel Sibu 1, which flew an Eritrean flag. The US Treasury had imposed sanctions on the ship in December, identifying it as part of the shadow fleet that helps Iran evade sanctions imposed on its oil exports.
According to data from the International Maritime Organization and reports from the British Commercial Maritime Operations Authority, Sibu 1 is at least the thirteenth vessel attacked this year off the coasts of Somalia or in the Gulf of Aden, compared with only five attacks recorded during 2025.
These attacks recall the wave of Somali piracy between 2008 and 2014, which caused losses of billions of dollars to the global economy, including hundreds of millions in ransoms paid. Piracy subsequently declined thanks to internationally coordinated security operations, but experts warn that it could resurge due to the precarious economic and security conditions that persist in Somalia.
Analysts point out that tensions related to Iran could contribute to an escalation in piracy, while rising oil prices make tankers more attractive targets. Additionally, some naval forces have been redirected from operations against pirates towards the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea to face Iranian and Houthi threats.
Experts also report signs of cooperation between Houthis and Somali pirates. Researcher Jay Bahadur noted that the capture of a vessel linked to Iran raises questions about possible connections between both groups, and added that Somali pirates receive support from Yemeni networks, including arms trafficking networks. According to Bahadur, the relationships between criminal networks in Yemen and Somalia are long-standing and are based on activities including arms and human trafficking.
