GULF OF ADEN (Azat TV) – Amid heightened regional turmoil across the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, the European Union’s Operation Atalanta anti-piracy mission is intensifying maritime security patrols in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin, The Associated Press reported in an article published on November 10, 2026. Naval commanders have warned that ongoing conflicts are indirectly fueling a fresh surge in pirate activity along vital international trade routes.
Operating aboard the Spanish frigate ESPS Santa María, a 4,000-ton warship leading the deployment, naval forces recently conducted live-fire and boarding exercises in preparation for potential vessel seizures. Vice Adm. Ignacio Villanueva, commander of Operation Atalanta, noted that instability breeds illegal maritime operations that eventually push coastal clans back to sea.
Strategic Chokepoints and Rising Attacks
Commanders report that 79 pirate attacks have occurred in the region since November 2023, with roughly 30 incidents recorded following the outbreak of the Iran conflict in February 2026. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow artery handling roughly 12% of global trade and a quarter of container traffic, has faced severe disruptions due to regional fighting.
Pirates have increasingly exploited security vacuums by mounting attacks off the Yemeni coast before moving hijacked vessels toward Somalia. While several commercial vessels have been successfully retaken, international maritime officials emphasize that the ongoing insecurity threatens global supply chains and drives up shipping costs.