Somali Piracy Surge Threatens Shipping In Gulf Of Aden

According to the BBC, a surge in piracy near Somalia has raised threats to shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the wider region, with two cargo vessels seized within four days last week and at least 13 ships attacked since the start of the year. The BBC said the latest hijackings have triggered drone strikes against the pirates and marked the biggest escalation in more than a decade. The MV Lutuf, a Cameroon-flagged ship, was attacked off Somalia's Puntland region on 17 August, while the Eritrean-flagged MT Sibu 1 was boarded in waters near Yemen a few days later. The BBC said the Lutuf is among six vessels being held for ransom demands of millions of dollars, and that four are anchored near Bander Beyla. Analysts said the piracy resurgence is being driven by insecurity in regional waterways, reduced naval patrols, more commercial shipping and anger over foreign trawlers overfishing in Somali waters.