Basra Tribesmen Free Hijacked Tanker from Somali Pirates
AI illustrationAn oil tanker was freed from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden after roughly 40 armed tribesmen from Basra, Iraq fought the hijackers for five hours at sea.
The tanker, owned by an Iraqi businessman, had been carrying crude from the UAE toward Europe when pirates seized it and held the crew for close to a month. Members of the Al-Shaghanba clan from Abu al-Khasib near Basra organized the rescue, working with Somali authorities to coordinate the operation. Seven pirates were captured. All crew members were freed safely.
The recovery came shortly after Puntland forces freed the Sibu 1 from pirates in the same waters after a 35-day hijacking.
Track this story live on MarineRadar
Follow the ships and waters behind the headline in real time — satellite positions every 5 minutes, full voyage history and arrival alerts, straight from your phone.
Related stories
All maritime news
Marine NewsSanctioned Tanker Sibu 1 Hijacked in Gulf of Aden, Diverted Toward Somalia
Sanctioned tanker Sibu 1 seized by 6 armed pirates in Gulf of Aden, diverted toward Somalia, 2026-08-20
Marine NewsTurkish Navy and Somali Forces Retake MV Lutuf, 14 Pirates Killed
Turkish Navy and Somali forces retook the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf, killing 14 Somali pirates; the ship had been seized on August 17
Marine NewsCargo Vessel Lutuf Seized by Pirates Off Somalia, Crew Unknown
Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel LUTUF hijacked by 8 armed pirates off northern Somalia, 4 nm south of Mareeyo at 11:36 UTC. Crew status unconfirmed.
Marine NewsTanker MT Sibu 1 Seized in Gulf of Aden With 16 Indian Crew on Board
Eritrea-flagged oil tanker MT Sibu 1 was hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden roughly 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast, with 16 Indian
Earlier stories
Published before this one
29 Sept 2026Cape Traffic Doubles as Hormuz Stays Shut, but South Africa Ports Miss the Windfall
29 Sept 2026Iran Expands Hormuz Blacklist to 81 Vessels, Claims 19 Targeted in Two Nights
28 Sept 2026Tangier Maersk Completes First US 100% Bioethanol Bunkering at Port of Mobile
28 Sept 2026Philippine Coast Guard Exposes Chinese Research Vessel Spoofing AIS Near Northern Cable
Never miss a story that moves the seas
The incidents, chokepoint shifts and vessel movements that matter — in your inbox the moment they break.