Somali Pirates Hijack Multiple Cargo Ships Off Coast

An armed gang has boarded a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia, taking control of it, according to maritime security firm Ambrey. The incident occurred about 600 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, and the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency has advised vessels to transit with caution. This marks a resurgence of pirate activity in the region, with more than 20 hijackings or attempted hijackings reported since November. The pirates' motivation may be linked to a relaxation of security measures or the chaos caused by other conflicts in the area.