Security forces in Somalia's Puntland region have rescued a Palau-flagged oil tanker seized by suspected pirates and arrested 16 of the hijackers, Puntland authorities said on Tuesday.

The MT Honor, also known as Honor 25, was freed off Bandarbeyla in northeastern Somalia after being held since April 21, the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) said.

The vessel and 17 surviving crew members were safe and under the control of Puntland authorities, the force said.

Five crew members were killed during the hijacking, including three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national, the PMPF said. Four others — three Pakistanis and one Indian — were wounded.

The tanker was carrying about 18,500 barrels of fuel to Mogadishu when it was hijacked, according to the PMPF.

The rescue followed an intelligence-led operation that disrupted the hijackers' preparations and allowed Puntland forces to regain control of the vessel, the security force said.

"During the operation, 16 suspected pirates were apprehended, while operations to locate the remaining members continue," the PMPF said in a statement.

The operation was the second successful anti-piracy rescue carried out by Puntland maritime forces within a month, according to the authorities.

Piracy off Somalia's coast fell sharply after international naval patrols, improved security measures aboard commercial vessels and coordinated efforts by regional and international authorities. But the country's long coastline and limited maritime enforcement capacity continue to present security challenges for shipping.

The latest incident highlights the continuing threat to commercial vessels operating in waters off the Horn of Africa, a region that includes important shipping routes linking the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. (ILKHA)