The EU sent a warship to the coast of Somalia following pirate attacks
In response to attacks on ships off the coast of Somalia, the European Union dispatched a warship to the region. According to Reuters, this is the first such incident since 2024.
On November 3, off the coast of Mogadishu, a commercial tanker was attacked by armed assailants. The vessel was fired upon after pirates attempted to board. This incident caused concern among international maritime carriers as important energy resources and goods are transported through these waters to global markets.
According to maritime industry data, this week a speedboat approached a fishing vessel flying the Seychelles flag, and another Iranian fishing vessel was seized by unknown attackers. The British maritime risk company Vanguard suggested that this vessel might be used as a base for further attacks.
The EU’s naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, confirmed that it is aware of the situation and is directing forces to the region, refraining from further comments for security reasons. The British company Ambrey indicated a high likelihood of pirate group activity in the area more than 300 nautical miles (approximately 555 km) from the Somali coastline.
Pirate groups in Somalia, once active in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, have shown little activity in recent years. However, another threat has emerged from the Yemeni Houthis, supported by Iran. They carried out the first attacks on commercial vessels in November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and the group Hamas.
Despite the Houthis agreeing to a truce regarding attacks on US-related vessels, many shipping companies continue to fear resuming routes in these waters, Reuters notes. In response to the threats, in February, the US, led by President Donald Trump, struck high-ranking ISIS members in Somalia.
