ERBIL () - Forty members of a Basra tribe helped free an oil tanker seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, capturing seven alleged attackers and securing the release of the crew, according to a local media report citing a tribal sheikh.
Sheikh Ali al-Shaghanbi said the vessel belonged to a member of the Al-Shaghanba tribe and had been hijacked while sailing in the Gulf of Aden. He said those on board were held by the attackers, who demanded a ransom for their release.
According to al-Shaghanbi, tribe members from Abu al-Khasib district and the village of Jikour mobilized and coordinated with contacts outside Iraq to recover the tanker. He said seven alleged pirates were captured during the operation, while others escaped.
The report did not identify the tanker, say when or precisely where the incident took place, name the crew members or specify which authorities, if any, participated in the operation. No independent confirmation of the tribal account was included.
The claim comes amid a renewed wave of piracy affecting waters around Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean, where armed groups have returned to hijacking commercial vessels and holding crews for ransom.
Recent cases show that attackers can operate far from the Somali coast. Maritime insurer Gard has said incidents have occurred as far as 800 nautical miles offshore, with pirates using small, fast boats and, in some cases, captured fishing vessels or dhows as platforms from which to launch attacks.
The Associated Press reported in April that suspected pirates seized a fuel tanker traveling from Berbera to Mogadishu, showing that even vessels serving Somali ports remain exposed.
The current resurgence remains smaller than the piracy crisis of the early 2010s but has again raised concerns for shipping companies and seafarers. Gard recalled that more than 200 attacks were recorded in 2011, including 28 successful hijackings and more than 600 seafarers taken hostage.
International naval operations and stronger shipboard protection later sharply reduced incidents, although pirate groups retained the ability to operate.
The human consequences remain substantial. The International Maritime Bureau recorded four regional vessel hijackings between April and May 2026. Somali pirates accounted for 94% of the 67 crew members taken hostage in piracy and armed robbery incidents worldwide during the first half of the year.
Some cases have involved prolonged captivity. Reuters reported in May that relatives of Pakistani sailors aboard the hijacked Honour 25 were appealing for assistance after 17 people were held on the tanker. Family members said the crew lacked clean drinking water and was surviving on limited food while negotiations continued.
There have also been successful recoveries. Reuters reported on Sept. 25 that Puntland maritime police said the tanker Sibu 1 had been freed following its hijacking in August.
International forces remain active in the area. On Sept. 11, the European Union's Atalanta naval mission said pirates abandoned the merchant vessel Glamor after its crew sheltered in a secure compartment and international forces responded. All crew members were reported safe.
Maritime authorities recommend continuous watchkeeping, trained crews, rapid reporting of suspicious activity and compliance with established ship-protection guidelines. The International Maritime Bureau has also called for naval forces to maintain a visible presence as a deterrent.
At the same time, maritime security guidance cautions against automatically classifying every armed vessel as a pirate boat, noting that fishermen in the region may carry weapons to protect themselves and their equipment.
For the reported Basra tanker incident, important questions remain unanswered. The tribal account describes an unusual rescue involving Iraqis operating far from home waters, but without the vessel’s identity, official confirmation or further operational details, the precise circumstances surrounding the reported hijacking and release remain unclear.
