Aden (South24 Center)

A commercial vessel transiting the Gulf of Aden came under attack by armed men on Wednesday (June 17), approximately 105 nautical miles northeast of Aden, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident is the latest in a series of maritime security events that have raised concerns about a possible resurgence of piracy in the waters between Yemen and Somalia.

UKMTO said two small skiffs approached the vessel and closed to within four meters before armed men aboard opened fire. The vessel’s onboard security team returned fire, prompting the skiffs to disengage and withdraw. All crew members were reported safe, and no injuries were recorded.

The vessel’s name, flag, and type have not been disclosed, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. UKMTO has advised ships operating in the area to maintain heightened vigilance and report any suspicious activity immediately.

The circumstances of the incident, including the use of small skiffs, the close-range approach, and the exchange of fire with the vessel’s security team, are consistent with piracy or armed robbery at sea. The attack differs from the missile and drone strikes associated with the Houthi campaign against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

The incident follows two separate maritime attacks reported off Yemen on June 15. In the first, a container vessel operating about 14 nautical miles south of the Yemeni coast was approached by a skiff carrying armed men who opened fire and attempted to board the ship. Later the same day, a tanker came under attack roughly 111 nautical miles southeast of Aden when four-armed men aboard a skiff reportedly fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the vessel.

Read more at: Two New Attacks off Yemen Raise Piracy Fears

A similar encounter occurred on June 10, when six-armed men aboard a skiff approached a cargo vessel approximately 88 nautical miles southwest of Balhaf Port in Shabwa Governorate. The attackers withdrew after an exchange of fire with the vessel’s security team.

The growing frequency of such incidents has heightened concerns over the evolving maritime threat environment across the Gulf of Aden and the wider Horn of Africa. Commercial shipping routes are increasingly exposed to overlapping security risks, including Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and signs of renewed activity by Somali piracy networks.

In an analysis published on June 14, South24 Center warned that the increase in armed approaches and attempted boardings could signal a broader deterioration in maritime security across the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Horn of Africa.

Concerns have intensified since the seizure of the oil tanker *MT Eureka* off the coast of Shabwa Governorate in early May. The New York Times, citing regional officials and maritime security experts, reported that the operation was carried out by Somali pirates and noted suspicions of coordination or cooperation with elements linked to the Houthi movement.

The latest incidents underscore mounting instability across maritime corridors stretching from the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait through the Gulf of Aden and into the Indian Ocean. Security analysts warn that piracy threats, Houthi military operations, and broader regional tensions are contributing to an increasingly complex and volatile operating environment for international shipping.