Somali forces recover hijacked oil tanker with Pakistani crew after five months
Puntland security forces rescued the MT Honour 25 oil tanker off the coast of Somalia on Tuesday, ending a five-month hijacking that began in April.
Rescue operation details confirmed
Maritime police units conducted a planned operation in the Dharin-Bar area of the Bandar Beyla district to secure the vessel. The tanker was seized by armed pirates on April 21, 2026, approximately 30 nautical miles from shore. Officials stated that the pirates holding the ship have been detained and will face court proceedings.
Casualty reports remain unclear
Initial media reports suggest five crew members died while four others were injured during the pirate hold. A family member confirmed that the husband of a fitter on board was reportedly among the injured. Authorities have not yet verified these figures or released names of any deceased individuals.
Regional piracy context noted
This rescue follows a similar counter-piracy operation last week where forces freed the US-sanctioned tanker Sibu 1. Piracy incidents off Somalia have recently increased again after a long period of relative calm in the region.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- Dawn
- Business Recorder
Reported by
2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.