Pirates Attack Vessel in Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Crew Reportedly Taken Hostage

Sana’a: An incident of maritime piracy has been reported in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where pirates allegedly attacked a commercial vessel and took control of it, according to media reports and maritime sources.
The Maritime Information Center confirmed receiving reports of the incident, stating that Somali pirates reportedly seized the ship and took its crew hostage. The vessel is said to be carrying more than two dozen crew members, including 11 Pakistani nationals along with Sri Lankan sailors.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. It serves as a vital passage for global shipping routes heading toward the Suez Canal.
This development comes amid already heightened tensions in the region. Earlier, the Houthi movement had also issued threats regarding the possible closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns in global energy and shipping markets. Analysts note that instability in the nearby Strait of Hormuz has already placed additional pressure on international oil supply chains, contributing to fluctuations in global oil prices.
Geographically, Bab el-Mandeb lies between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African coast. Since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, it has become an indispensable route for global trade, with nearly a quarter of the world’s maritime commerce passing through the Red Sea corridor.