Tuesday 18,March 2025  {HMC} Suspected Somali pirates have hijacked another Yemeni fishing boat off the Horn of Africa, the third such attack in recent weeks, authorities said Monday.

In a statement, a European naval force known as EUNAVFOR Atalanta said the pirates targeted the ship Sunday off the town of Eyl in Somalia. It identified the vessel as a Yemeni-flagged dhow, a traditional ship that plies the waters of the Mideast.

It said some seven hijackers remained on board the ship, which had a crew of eight Somalis.

The attack marks the third seizure in recent weeks. In February, pirates seized a dhow called the Saytuun-2. That Feb. 17 attack came just days after another pirate attack on another Yemeni fishing boat that ultimately ended with the pirates fleeing and the mariners on board being recovered unhurt.

Piracy off the Somali coast peaked in 2011, when 237 attacks were reported. Somali piracy in the region at the time cost the world’s economy some $7 billion — with $160 million paid out in ransoms, according to the Oceans Beyond Piracy monitoring group.

The threat was diminished by increased international naval patrols, a strengthening central government in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, and other efforts.

However, Somali pirate attacks have resumed at a greater pace over the last year, in part due to the insecurity caused by Yemen’s Houthi rebels launching their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

In 2024, there were seven reported incidents off Somalia, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

Source AP

Tuesday 18,March 2025  {HMC} Turkey has deployed advanced Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to Somalia, delivering on a long-anticipated military commitment to enhance the country’s counterterrorism operations.

The Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday morning as part of Turkey’s ongoing military assistance to Somalia. These drones are expected to enhance the Somali National Army’s (SNA) operational capabilities in targeting Al-Shabaab. Compared to the previously deployed Bayraktar TB2 drones, the Akinci boasts greater endurance, advanced surveillance systems, and the ability to conduct long-range precision strikes. It has a maximum payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms, allowing it to carry an array of munitions, including SOM cruise missiles, Gökdoğan air-to-air missiles, Bozok guided bombs, and MK-82 bombs.

Somalia’s outgoing Defense Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, hailed the deployment as “unprecedented military aid,” emphasizing Turkey’s unwavering commitment to supporting Somalia’s security efforts. The drones are expected to enhance the SNA’s ability to conduct precision airstrikes and disrupt militant operations, a critical development in the country’s ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab.
Turkey has been a key ally of Somalia in recent years, providing military training, infrastructure support, and defence equipment to strengthen the country’s security forces. The deployment of the Akinci drones marks a significant step in deepening this military partnership while reinforcing Turkey’s strategic influence in the Horn of Africa.

Analysts say the addition of these advanced UCAVs will not only improve the effectiveness of Somali military operations but also contribute to the broader goal of stabilizing the country by curbing Al-Shabaab’s territorial ambitions.