Twenty-Two Indian Sailors Aboard Two Hijacked Vessels Near Yemen and Somalia
Gunmen seize ships in Gulf of Aden and nearby waters. Indian authorities assessing situation.
New Delhi1 min read
Last updated
Twenty-two Indian citizens are among the crew of two vessels seized by gunmen in waters near Yemen and Somalia, Indian officials confirmed on 21 August 2026.
One ship was carrying Turkish weapons and was last located in East Africa. Its ten-member crew includes six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security guards.
The second vessel’s details remain less clear. Authorities in New Delhi are working through diplomatic and naval channels to secure the safety of those on board.
Piracy and armed seizure incidents have risen again in the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden after a period of relative calm. Indian naval ships routinely patrol the area under anti-piracy missions.
No ransom demands or further details on the hijackers’ identity were immediately available. The Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating with the shipping companies and coastal states.
