Pirates have killed five crew members on board a Palau-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Somalia before security forces rescued the ship, according to Somali authorities. The deaths on the tanker, the MT Honour 25, were announced on Tuesday.

The killings appear to be the first at the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade and come amid a resurgence of piracy in the region. Experts have partially attributed this increase to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel's war on Iran.

Authorities stated that the MT Honour 25, carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, was seized by pirates on April 21. The Information Ministry of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, confirmed in a statement that a rescue mission had freed the vessel and resulted in the capture of 16 suspected pirates. The ministry reported that "Before the operation began, the pirates on board the ship killed five of the crew," identifying the deceased as three from Pakistan, one from Myanmar, and one from India. Four other crew members sustained injuries.

The Puntland Maritime Police Force announced on social media that the vessel was now "safe" and under government control, with ongoing efforts to apprehend any remaining individuals involved in the hijacking. This rescue follows a similar operation the previous week that freed the Sibu 1, a tanker sanctioned by the U.S., which had been hijacked in August.

However, the recent piracy incident highlights a worrying trend. Officials report at least 15 attacks off Somalia since April. The previous major wave of piracy, which lasted from 2008 to 2014, significantly disrupted global shipping routes, caused billions of dollars in economic losses, and involved hundreds of millions in ransom payments.

The incident also brings back painful memories for families of victims. In May 2026, families of Pakistani hostages from the MT Honour 25 protested in Karachi, calling for government action for their safe return.

Details surrounding the escape of 28 pirates from a previous operation in the same week the Sibu 1 was freed remain under investigation. Several Puntland security officials have accused local police of complicity in the pirates' escape while they were being transferred to jail.

The resurgence of piracy off Somalia's coast raises concerns about maritime security in the vital shipping lanes of the Horn of Africa and the broader implications for international trade and regional stability.