Somali Pirates Are Back — and Local Navies Are Stepping Up

Somali pirates hijacked the tanker Honour 25 on August 13, 2026 — the second ship seized off Somalia this year. They reportedly turned an earlier captured ship into a floating base to strike farther out to sea. Neighboring navies formed a new patrol group, but it is untested. Western navies are busy with tensions near Iran, leaving fewer ships to help.