Egypt says eight sailors released after months aboard hijacked tanker

• The tanker was taken from Yemeni territorial waters to Somali waters near the Puntland region after it was hijacked.
• The sailors were released on Wednesday following high-level diplomatic contacts, the ministry said.
• The eight sailors had been held aboard the vessel for nearly five months.

Eight Egyptian sailors held aboard the M/T Eureka since May 2 have been released, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.

The ministry said the sailors were released following high-level diplomatic contacts.

The M/T Eureka was hijacked in Yemeni territorial waters on May 2 and taken to Somali territorial waters near the Puntland region, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

The eight Egyptian sailors remained aboard the vessel until their release on Wednesday, according to the ministry.