Somali security forces have recovered the Palau-flagged oil tanker Honour 25, more than five months after it was hijacked by pirates. The vessel was carrying 19 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force said its naval and ground units conducted a planned operation in the Dharin-Bar area of Bandar Beyla district to regain control of the vessel.
Following the operation, authorities said the tanker had been secured and was now under the control of the Puntland government.
The maritime police reported that 21 suspected pirates were arrested, while efforts to locate other suspected members of the group were continuing.
According to the authorities, five crew members were killed before the operation began, including three Pakistanis, one Myanmar national and one Indian national. Four other crew members three Pakistanis and one Indian were reportedly injured.
The detained suspects are expected to face legal proceedings, according to reports citing Puntland state television.
Families of the Pakistani crew members have expressed concern over the casualties and said they were struggling to obtain confirmed information about the condition of their loved ones.
Relatives said they had been unable to establish direct contact with the vessel’s captain and were seeking details about the injured crew members and the bodies of those who died.
Initial information from the crew indicated that five people had been killed and four injured in the incident.
The vessel’s crew also included seven Indonesians, one Indian and one Sri Lankan, in addition to the Pakistani sailors.
The tanker was hijacked in April, after which negotiations over the release of the crew reportedly remained stalled. The ransom demand was reportedly around $3 million.
The crew had previously released emotional video and audio appeals, saying they were running short of essential supplies, including clean water, food and medicines. Their families subsequently appealed to foreign governments, the United Nations and the International Maritime Organisation to intervene for their release.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office had said it was actively engaged in efforts to secure the sailors’ release. Pakistani officials also raised the matter with the International Maritime Organisation, calling for urgent action to facilitate the sailors’ return.
Human rights organisation Ansar Burney Trust also said it was coordinating with relevant authorities and international organisations regarding the return of the injured crew members and the bodies of those killed.
The latest incident comes amid a reported resurgence in Somali piracy, with at least 15 attacks recorded since April, the highest number reported since 2013.
