Five gunmen who attempted to seize a commercial ship off the coast of Yemen on November 26 are likely Somalis, and not Houthi Yemenis as had been alleged, the U.S. Defence Department has said.
“We’re continuing to assess, but initial indications are that these five individuals are Somali. But again, we’ll continue to assess that, as well as next steps in terms of the disposition of those five individuals,” Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder told a press briefing on November 27.
“You know that Somali piracy is something that’s out there.”
The attackers attempted to take over the ship but were thwarted by US forces who were reportedly responding to a distress call from the Israeli-linked Liberian-flagged tanker called the Central Park.
The assailants are being detained by US forces aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason.
Yemen’s government blamed Houthi fighters for the incident. The Pentagon spokesperson, however, said “we know that they’re not Houthi”.
The attempted seizure of the tanker came days after an Iranian-flagged fishing ship was reportedly confiscated by armed people off the coast of the ancient Somali port town of Eyl.
The hijackers said that the vessel was engaged in unregulated fishing, according to media reports.
Somalia requires foreign ships to operate in its waters only with the authorities’ approval.
