Somali piracy has resurged sharply in 2026, with at least six commercial vessels hijacked since April amid elevated fuel prices, regional instability linked to conflicts in the Gulf, and possible external financing or coordination in some cases. Multiple smaller tankers and cargo ships were seized off Puntland and in the Gulf of Aden, held near the coast, and used in some instances as motherships for further attacks. Recent counter-piracy operations by Puntland maritime police have freed several vessels, including Honour 25 and Eureka in late September, though one rescue involved the first crew fatalities attributed to Somali pirates in over a decade. International naval efforts under EUNAVFOR Atalanta continue monitoring, yet resources remain stretched by broader maritime threats. Traders weigh the persistence of pirate networks and ongoing suspicious approaches against strengthened local enforcement and seasonal navigation patterns when assessing the probability of additional successful seizures.