Somali pirates seize two ships in four days as US-Iran war escalates

Two ships were seized by Somali pirates within four days last week, according to reports from BBC World and the British Broadcasting Corporation. This brings the total number of ships attacked since January 2026 to at least 13. The attacks are occurring in the Gulf of Aden, a critical shipping route. The surge in piracy is attributed to the broader instability caused by the US-Iran war. Somali pirates have been exploiting the chaos to target commercial vessels. The US and Iran have both denied direct involvement in the attacks, though the conflict has created a power vacuum in the region. Both outlets report the same facts, with no divergence in the details provided. The BBC World and British Broadcasting Corporation have published identical excerpts, indicating a coordinated reporting effort.