Turkish and Somali forces free cargo ship hijacked off Puntland
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Turkish and Somali forces freed the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel MV Latuf after a 10-day operation off Somalia's Puntland coast. Somali authorities said 14 pirates were killed and four boats destroyed. The vessel had been hijacked on August 17 and has resumed its voyage to Dar-es-Salaam.
Key Facts
- Somali authorities said 14 pirates were killed in the operation to free the MV Latuf.
- The MV Latuf was hijacked on August 17 off the coast of Puntland's Nugal region.
- The rescue operation was conducted under a defence cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkiye.
- At least 15 attacks have occurred off the coast of Somalia this year, the highest since 2013, according to the International Maritime Organization.
The Rescue Operation
Turkish and Somali forces freed the MV Latuf after a 10-day operation, according to the Somali Ministry of Defence. The ministry said 14 pirates were killed and four of their boats were destroyed. Sustained pressure from the forces ultimately compelled the remaining pirates to abandon the vessel, allowing the forces to take control of the ship. The operation was conducted under a defence cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkiye aimed at strengthening maritime security and combating piracy.
Vessel and Crew Status
The MV Latuf left the Turkish Port of Tekirdag in late July and was hijacked on August 17 in waters off the coast of the Nugal region of Puntland. The Somali Defence Ministry did not provide details about any casualties or the wellbeing of the ship's crew. A local elder, Abdullahi Warsame, from the Jiifle community in the Godob Jiraan district of Puntland's Nugal region, told The Associated Press that the vessel and its crew had been freed. According to the Marine Traffic website, the cargo ship has continued its voyage to its reported destination in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
Piracy Resurgence
Piracy was rampant off the coast of Somalia in the 2000s, peaking in 2011, before being curbed by international naval deployments and new protection measures for commercial shipping. Attacks have surged since April, with at least 15 attacks off the coast of Somalia this year, the highest since 2013, according to figures from the International Maritime Organization. At least five cargo ships have been held hostage, the last of which was seized on August 20 off the coast of Yemen.
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Turkish and Somali forces free cargo ship hijacked off Puntland
