DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Officials reported on Monday that suspected Somali pirates have captured a Yemeni fishing vessel near the Horn of Africa.

The European naval operation in the region, known as EUNAVFOR Atalanta, confirmed that they are currently looking into the matter.

The attack reportedly targeted a traditional dhow, a type of boat commonly used in Middle Eastern waters, close to the coastal town of Eyl in Somalia.

The maritime security firm Ambrey indicated that during the attack, the suspected pirates made off with three small boats that were equipped with 60-horsepower engines. Furthermore, Ambrey reported early Tuesday that a group believed to be involved in piracy was seen leaving the vicinity of Eyl.

Although piracy near the Somali coast was once at alarming levels, with a peak of 237 reported incidents in 2011, the frequency of such attacks had significantly decreased due to concerted international efforts.

These efforts included increased naval patrols, a more stable central government in Mogadishu, and various other initiatives that collectively helped suppress piracy.

However, there has been a resurgence of piracy off the Somali coast in the past year, exacerbated by the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels impacting the Red Sea route amidst tensions from the Israel-Hamas situation in Gaza.

The International Maritime Bureau noted that there were seven reported piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia in 2024.