An Iranian Fishing Vessel Was Hijacked Off the Coast of Somalia

For the first time in three years, pirates have hijacked an Iranian fishing vessel that was reportedly fishing 'illegally' off the coast of Somalia. According to AFP, this is the first successful action by pirates in the last three years, raising concerns about the resurgence of piracy in the region. Alan Cole from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime stated, 'An Iranian vessel engaged in illegal fishing in Somali waters was hijacked by pirates earlier this week.' The report notes that Somali pirates were responsible for the hijacking of 28 vessels and 237 maritime incidents in 2011, but international naval forces and armed guards have managed to reduce attacks on ships in recent years. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, there had been no successful hijacking operations by Somali pirates from May 2012 until the hijacking of the Iranian vessel. Previously, Somali pirates justified their attacks by claiming they were defending their fishing grounds against illegal fishermen. Reports released on Tuesday indicated that local authorities and police had begun detaining illegal fishermen, but a senior Somali government official emphasized that Somali government forces played no role in the seizure of the vessel.