Chemical tanker Asana seized in Gulf of Aden, Reuters reports

A chemical product tanker named Asana was seized by armed individuals in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen on Friday, Reuters reported, citing maritime security sources. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that "unauthorised persons" had boarded a merchant vessel heading east in the Gulf of Aden. UKMTO did not release additional information on the identity of those who boarded the ship or the fate of its crew. The incident comes amid heightened security tensions on shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, which have prompted a series of international warnings in recent months. International organizations have reported a rise in piracy and other security threats targeting maritime traffic in the region, which is considered one of the world's most strategic transit points for seaborne trade. No further details on the seizure were immediately available.