Somali pirates capture Iran-linked "shadow fleet" tanker

Experts have pointed to impacts of the Iran war on the piracy surge, including elevated oil prices that make tankers more attractive targets and the diversion of naval assets previously focused on piracy to the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea to deal with threats from Iran and its Houthi allies in Yemen.

Some have cited evidence of collaboration between the Houthis and Somali pirates after several vessels were seized near the Yemeni coast.

Jay Bahadur, a researcher and co-director of the Scopus Insights consultancy, said the seizure of an Iran-linked vessel like Sibu 1 made him very sceptical of Houthi links to the recent hijackings but added it was clear Somali pirates were receiving support from Yemeni nationals, including arms trafficking networks.

"You're having these traditional, longstanding relationships built around arms trafficking and human smuggling built up between Yemeni criminal actors and Somali criminal actors," he said.

(Additional reporting by Natalia Chumakova Editing by Gareth Jones)