Somali piracy surges as the impact of the US
Somali piracy has surged, with at least 13 ships attacked this year, as international forces are reportedly diverted by the US war with Iran and Houthi blockades in strategic waterways. Recent incidents include the hijacking of the MV Lutuf and MT Sibu 1 in the Gulf of Aden.
Why it matters
The resurgence of piracy threatens global maritime trade and security in critical shipping lanes, potentially leading to increased costs, supply chain disruptions, and heightened geopolitical tensions.
Barbara Plett Usher Africa correspondent Tuesday September 1, 2026
Pirates manage to board ships operating a long way from the coast and then guide them closer to the shore
A surge in piracy near Somalia has increased threats to shipping already under pressure from maritime blockades and conflict due to the US war with Iran.
Two cargo vessels were seized in the Gulf of Aden within four days last week, rising to at least 13 the number of ships attacked since the start of the year and triggering unprecedented drone strikes against the pirates.
"Piracy is always a crime of opportunity," says Omar Mahmood, a senior Somalia analyst for the International Crisis Group (ICG), "and right now the pirates see an opportunity."
That opportunity comes from the impact of the war on regional waterways further north.
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