Ransom, captivity and unknown fate: maritime terror shakes the Middle East again

Maritime terror off the coast of Somalia is resurging: the cargo ship M/V LUTUF, flying the flag of Cameroon with ten crew members (including six Indians), was hijacked by gunmen off the coast of Puntland. Days earlier, the M.T. Sibu 1 was also hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. Experts warn that regional wars are diverting resources from shipping lanes, giving pirates an opportunity to return.

Maritime terror off the coast of Somalia is raising its head again, with two ship hijackings within days. The cargo ship M/V LUTUF, flying the flag of Cameroon with ten crew members (including six Indian nationals), was hijacked by gunmen off the coast of Puntland in northeastern Somalia and taken toward the shore. According to reports, it was carrying Turkish equipment and weapons destined for Mogadishu. Days earlier, the M.T. Sibu 1 was also hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, with 16 Indian nationals on board; its crew were reported safe, but the status of the LUTUF crew remains unclear. The incidents raise fears of a resurgence of Somali piracy, after international naval forces had previously managed to reduce it. Experts cited by the New York Times warn that regional wars and tensions are diverting resources from shipping lanes, giving pirates an opportunity to expand their activities. Meanwhile, four people were killed in an attack near the coast of Puntland; some reports claim pirates were involved in the hijacking and that the attack was carried out as part of Turkish activity, while local residents claim they were fishermen. The circumstances of the incident remain disputed.