India, July 17 -- A chemical tanker identified as Asana was reportedly hijacked by armed assailants in the Gulf of Aden off the southern coast of Yemen on Friday, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

According to maritime security sources, the attackers boarded the vessel and took control while it was sailing through the strategic waterway that connects the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea.

Initial reports indicate that the vessel issued a distress call after the boarding. The identity of the attackers has not yet been officially confirmed, and authorities are still working to establish the status of the crew and cargo. Maritime security agencies and naval forces operating in the region ...