A cargo vessel was reportedly hijacked on Monday in waters off Somalia, with two Indian nationals among the 15 crew members taken hostage. The ship, identified as the Sward, a St. Kitts and Nevis-flagged general cargo vessel, was seized near the coastal area of Garacad, according to maritime security sources and local officials.
Incident Details
The hijacking has triggered alerts from international monitoring agencies, including the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which confirmed that unauthorized individuals took control of the vessel and redirected it toward Somali territorial waters. On board are 15 crew members, including nationals from India and Syria, who are now believed to be held hostage.
Response and Concerns
Maritime security experts have expressed concern over the resurgence of piracy in the region, which had seen a decline in recent years. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Hormuz Strait, though the hijacking is attributed to Somali pirates rather than geopolitical actors. Authorities are working to secure the safe release of the crew.
