Five crew members of an oil tanker have been killed by Somali pirates before local security forces successfully recaptured the vessel, according to Puntland Deputy Information Minister Bile Qabowsade. The MT Hoarner 25, which had been seized in April whilst carrying approximately 18,500 barrels of oil destined for Mogadishu, has been recovered following the incident. This represents a concerning escalation in maritime attacks off the Somali coast, a region where piracy had largely subsided following international naval operations after 2011 but has resurged significantly in recent years.

The deceased crew members comprised three Pakistani nationals, one Indian, and one from Myanmar, whilst four others sustained injuries during the incident. The tanker was initially hijacked by six armed men in April whilst sailing off Somalia's coast, and the vessel was subsequently anchored between the coastal towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla. Sixteen suspected pirates have been arrested in connection with the hijacking, though some remain at large and are being pursued by authorities. The exact circumstances of how the crew members were killed have not been disclosed by officials.