Off the coast of Somalia, the oldest maritime crime has found new life in the shadow of newer wars. Since January 2026, at least thirteen vessels have been attacked — the worst surge in over a decade — as international naval forces, drawn northward by US-Iran tensions and Houthi blockades, have left a security vacuum that pirate networks were never truly dismantled enough to stop exploiting. The sea, as it always has, rewards those who read its absences well.
Somali piracy resurges as regional conflicts create security vacuum
Thirteen alleged pirate network members were killed in two drone strikes since August 18; crew members of hijacked vessels face hostage situations.