EYL— (WDN) In a dramatic and unexpected turn off Puntland’s coastline, a pirate assault on an Iranian fishing vessel ended in bloodshed after the targeted crew fought back.

The attack, launched from the Maraya area of Eyl district, quickly spiraled when gunfire erupted from the fishing boat. One suspected pirate was killed on the spot, and two others were wounded in the exchange, according to local sources.

The body of the deceased and the two injured men were later brought ashore in Eyl. Puntland security forces swiftly took the wounded suspects into custody, along with the individual who transported them to town. The deceased was placed in cold storage pending further procedures.

Witnesses say the pirate group originally consisted of around ten men. Several reportedly fled the scene after the botched assault, disappearing along the coastline.

The failed raid comes amid growing concern over renewed piracy along Puntland’s shores. In recent months, multiple attacks targeting fishing boats and commercial vessels have been reported, raising alarms that the region may be witnessing a troubling resurgence of maritime crime.

The warning signs were already visible. On December 31, 2025, pirates hijacked the Chinese-owned fishing vessel Liao Dong Yu 578 near Bandarbeyla — a stark reminder of the lawlessness that once plagued these waters.

Today’s clash off Eyl suggests that piracy, long thought to be under control, may once again be testing the limits of coastal security.

WardheerNews