By Hassan Adan

Puntland’s Regional state security forces clashed with suspected pirates in Somalia’s Mudug region on Thursday, amid growing concerns over a renewed wave of maritime attacks off the country’s coast.

The fighting broke out in the coastal town of Garacad when regional forces confronted armed men believed to be linked to recent hijackings targeting commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, local residents said.

Among those injured was Jariiban district police commander Abdullahi Abdi Elmi, also known as “Guray Dusaaye,” although officials have not confirmed the extent of his injuries.

A Puntland presidential guard soldier, identified as Asad Arab, was also  killed during the exchange, according to security sources.

“The forces engaged the group after receiving intelligence about their movements,” a local security official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, told Frontier Online Media  “The suspects retreated after a brief but intense confrontation.”

Authorities in Puntland have yet to release an official statement, and the exact number of casualties remains unclear.

The incident comes as regional authorities step up operations against pirate networks reportedly operating from coastal areas around Garacad, where several vessels are believed to be held.

Maritime security analysts say piracy incidents have risen sharply in recent days.

At least three vessels have been hijacked in the past week alone, including the oil tanker Honour 25, which was seized on April 21 while carrying around 18,000 barrels of oil.

Another merchant ship, Sward, was captured on April 26, according to the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa, a European Union-linked monitoring body.

“The recent spike in attacks is concerning and suggests pirate groups may be reorganising after years of relative inactivity,” said a regional maritime security analyst. “These incidents highlight persistent vulnerabilities along the Somali coast.”

Somali piracy reached its peak in 2011, when more than 200 attacks were recorded, disrupting one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors.

The threat later declined due to increased international naval patrols and improved security measures on commercial vessels.

However, since 2023, sporadic attacks have re-emerged, raising fears of a sustained comeback that could again threaten global trade routes linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East.