Spanish naval forces successfully carried out an operation to free a tanker hijacked by pirates in the waters of the Indian Ocean. The vessel, sailing under the Maltese flag with 24 people on board, was attacked about 1,300 kilometers from Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The crew managed to take refuge in a secure compartment, where they stayed in contact with European military forces.
The Spanish frigate Victoria, operating as part of the Atalanta mission, quickly arrived at the scene. The operation involved a helicopter, a drone, special forces, and a reconnaissance aircraft. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the military, the pirates were forced to abandon the ship without harming anyone on board.
The search for the hijacked tanker involved not only Spanish forces, but also a Japanese patrol aircraft, as well as maritime services from the Seychelles and the Puntland region in northern Somalia. After a show of force by the frigate, the attackers quickly fled, and the crew was freed without a single casualty.
In recent months, pirate activity off the coast of Somalia has been on the rise again. This is being linked to instability in the region, the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, and attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Although such incidents have decreased significantly in recent years, new threats are prompting European countries to step up patrols and coordination along maritime routes.
The pirates who attacked the tanker are currently wanted. The military continues to patrol these dangerous waters to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of shipping in one of the world’s most challenging regions.
