Yemen’s Coast Guard said on Saturday it is tracking the hijacking of the oil tanker M/T EUREKA off the coast of Shabwa province, after it was seized in an armed attack by unidentified assailants.

 

In a preliminary statement, the Coast Guard said the attackers boarded the vessel and took control of it before steering it toward the Gulf of Aden in the direction of the Somali coast, according to initial information.

 

It added that, upon receiving the report, its forces launched field operations, dispatching two patrol boats from Aden along with additional vessels from Shabwa as part of search and tracking efforts, despite what it described as limited capabilities and the country’s exceptional circumstances.

 

The Coast Guard said coordination had been established with international partners and relevant authorities operating in the Gulf of Aden, leading to the identification of the tanker’s location. It added that efforts are ongoing to monitor the vessel and take necessary measures to recover it and ensure the safety of its crew.

 

No details were provided about the identity of those behind the attack, as waters surrounding Yemen have witnessed a rise in maritime incidents and piracy-related threats.

 

The incident is described as the first of its kind involving the hijacking of an oil tanker and its diversion toward Somali waters, indicating an escalation in maritime instability near Yemen.

 

The development follows two incidents reported by the British navy a day earlier near the coast of Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout in eastern Yemen.

 

These events come amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and continued disruption to international shipping in the Red Sea.