Somali pirates killed five crew on hijacked tanker MT Honour 25 before rescue, Puntland says

30 September 2026

Puntland authorities said security forces rescued the tanker MT Honour 25, which was hijacked off Somalia in April 2026. The Palau-flagged vessel was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil. The Puntland Information Ministry said the pirates on board killed five of the crew before the operation began. The deaths appear to be the first at the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade. Experts attribute the revival of Somali piracy in 2026 in part to the effects of the war on Iran.