DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Authorities have reported that suspected Somali pirates have taken control of yet another Yemeni fishing vessel off the Horn of Africa.
On Tuesday evening, a European naval force, known as EUNAVFOR Atalanta, issued a statement detailing that the incident targeted a traditional dhow, a type of boat commonly used in Middle Eastern waters, near the coastal town of Eyl in Somalia.
The naval force mentioned that the attack, which occurred on Monday, is currently under investigation.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another recent pirate attack on a different Yemeni fishing boat, which ultimately ended with the pirates fleeing the scene and the crew being rescued without injury.

Piracy along the Somali coast reached its highest level in 2011, when a staggering total of 237 attacks were documented.
During that peak, Somali piracy reportedly inflicted approximately $7 billion in damages to the global economy, with ransom payments amounting to $160 million, as reported by the Oceans Beyond Piracy monitoring organization.
Due to more effective international naval patrols, improvements in the governmental structure in Mogadishu—the capital of Somalia—and continued worldwide efforts to combat piracy, the threats had significantly reduced.

However, in recent times, there has been a noticeable resurgence in Somali pirate activities, particularly over the past year.
This uptick can be partially attributed to the instability caused by Houthi rebels from Yemen, who have initiated attacks in the Red Sea corridor amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip related to the Israel-Hamas war.
The International Maritime Bureau has recorded seven incidents off the coast of Somalia in 2024, reflecting a concerning trend in maritime security.