Reports indicate that Somali pirates are once again posing a threat to commercial shipping in the Red Sea, collaborating with Yemeni Houthi rebels backed by Iran. This partnership is jeopardizing the transport of vast amounts of offshore oil.
According to Id Shareef, CEO of RTCOM Defense, “Somali and Houthi groups are coordinating attacks on vessels using small boats and advanced technology—something we haven’t seen in a decade. The rerouting of Saudi oil from the Strait of Hormuz has created a prime opportunity for them.”
He elaborated that the Houthis are providing geopolitical advantages and sophisticated tracking systems while the Somali groups are contributing manpower and vessels for their operations.
Shareef mentioned that this situation reflects a return to the so-called “Somali model” of piracy reminiscent of the 1990s after Somalia’s central government fell apart. With a coastline stretching for 2,000 miles and a substantial fleet of small fishing boats, it didn’t take long for criminal elements to repurpose these vessels for large-scale attacks against commercial ships.
While it was believed that the piracy wave had receded following the federal government’s regained control over Somalia’s waters, recent outbreaks have emerged, leading to significant embarrassment for Somali officials.
On April 21, Somali pirates hijacked an oil tanker named Honor 25, taking 27 crew members hostage, who now reportedly face shortages of food and water. The pirates are demanding a ransom for both the ship and its crew.
The Yemeni Coast Guard reported that an unidentified group had seized a Togolese-flagged oil tanker called Eureka, which they managed to commandeer and bring toward Somalia’s coastline via the Gulf of Aden.
Officials in Puntland, Somalia’s semi-autonomous region, mentioned that Yemenis were involved in this seizure. Reports suggest that Eureka has a history of hijacking incidents and is potentially linked to the Houthis and various armed factions. Intelligence analysts suggest that the Houthis have been assisting Somali pirates with training and improved equipment over recent years.
During the ongoing Gaza War, Houthis have intensified their assault on Red Sea shipping with missiles, drones, and small craft. This newfound collaboration with Somali pirates seems to be another strategy to undermine international trade, likely under the guidance of Iranian sponsors. As oil prices rise and the value of intercepted cargo grows, pirates undoubtedly see rich rewards in the form of ransoms.
Shalev pointed out that with international naval forces distracted by missile threats, a “security vacuum” currently exists in the region. This situation could allow pirates to travel extended distances in small boats to intercept yielding commercial vessels.
Moreover, Iranian forces have executed assaults on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz using coordinated tactics similar to those employed by Somali pirates. Reports of such attacks surfaced recently, although there hasn’t been any immediate claim of responsibility. Notably, just a couple of weeks ago, a video surfaced showing troops from the Iranian Republican Guard utilizing small boats to board and seize a civilian vessel.
Al Jazeera highlighted that during the peak of the Somali piracy crisis in the early 2010s, the estimated financial damage to global shipping was around $18 billion, with individual ransoms reaching up to $413 million per vessel.
