ADEN, Yemen, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A chemical tanker is believed to have been hijacked by armed assailants while transiting the Gulf of Aden off Yemen's southern coast on Friday, a Yemeni Coast Guard source told Xinhua.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the vessel as the chemical tanker Asana, which was not carrying a confirmed national flag.
"Initial information suggests the incident is more likely related to piracy, but investigations are still underway," the source said.
Earlier on Friday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on social media platform X that a vessel, while transiting east through the Gulf of Aden, had been "boarded by unauthorized personnel" some 65 nautical miles south of the Yemeni port city of Mukalla.
Authorities are investigating the incident, UKMTO said, advising vessels in the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
The incident highlights persistent security concerns in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where commercial vessels have faced a series of attacks, attempted boardings and piracy-related incidents in recent months. ■
