Puntland announces the rescue of an oil tanker held hostage

Garoowe (Caasimada Online) – Puntland has announced that it has conducted an operation to rescue a tanker that was held by pirate groups off the coast of Mudug, confirming that the tanker and its crew were saved.

The operation resulted in casualties, with Puntland stating that three people died in the fighting, while several others were injured.

The tanker, named MTT-SIBU 1, was captured between the coasts of Garacad and Hobyo, according to Puntland's security agencies. This tanker was carrying oil and was sailing under the flag of Eritrea.

The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) carried out the operation to rescue the tanker, while the forces had been conducting operations against pirate groups along the Puntland coast in recent days.

A statement from the Puntland administration indicated that the operation successfully rescued the tanker and its crew, with security forces seizing the tanker after a confrontation with the group that held it.

The SIBU 1 tanker was hijacked on August 21 off the coast of Yemen, before the groups that captured it redirected towards the Somali coast.

The rescue of the tanker comes as the Mudug coast and other areas of Puntland are witnessing naval operations targeting groups involved in hijacking and seizing vessels.

Puntland stated that the operation concluded successfully, resulting in the rescue of the tanker and its crew, while security agencies continue their operations against pirate groups.