Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – A tribal dignitary from Basra Governorate revealed on Friday, September 25, 2026, that approximately 40 members of the Al-Shaghanba tribe from the Abu Al-Khaseeb district successfully liberated a hijacked crude oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, freeing the crew and capturing seven armed pirates.

Sheikh Ali Al-Shaghanbi stated that the commercial vessel, owned by an Iraqi businessman belonging to the Al-Shaghanba tribe, was intercepted and boarded by maritime pirates while transiting strategic maritime lanes off the southern Arabian Peninsula.

According to the tribal leader, the pirates seized control of the tanker, took the crew hostage, and issued ransom demands as a condition for their release.

In response, an expeditionary group of roughly 40 armed tribesmen from Abu Al-Khaseeb and the village of Jaykoor mobilized to mount a direct recovery operation, coordinating logistics and tracking through international contacts positioned outside Iraq.

The intervention concluded with the tribal forces successfully storming the vessel, regaining full command of the tanker, and securing the safe release of all detained crew members unharmed.

Sheikh Al-Shaghanbi confirmed that the clash resulted in the capture and detention of seven armed pirates found aboard the vessel, while remaining members of the pirate group managed to flee the maritime perimeter.