Turkish and Somali forces have successfully rescued a cargo ship that was held captive by pirates off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland state, according to Somali authorities. The operation, which lasted 10 days, resulted in the deaths of 14 pirates, as reported by the Somali Ministry of Defence in a statement on X on Saturday. Additionally, four pirate boats were destroyed during the operation.
The Defence Ministry indicated that sustained pressure from the forces led to the remaining pirates abandoning the vessel, enabling the forces to regain control of the ship. This rescue operation was conducted under a defense cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkiye, which aims to enhance maritime security, protect Somalia’s coastline, and combat piracy.
The Somali Defence Ministry did not disclose any information regarding casualties or the condition of the ship’s crew. Local elder Abdullahi Warsame from the Jiifle community in Puntland’s Nugal region confirmed to The Associated Press that the vessel and its crew had been freed.
The MV Latuf, which is flagged in Cameroon, departed from the Turkish Port of Tekirdag in late July and was hijacked on August 17 in waters off the coast of Puntland. According to the Marine Traffic website, the cargo ship has resumed its journey to its reported destination in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia was widespread in the 2000s, peaking in 2011, but was reduced due to international naval deployments and enhanced protection measures for commercial shipping. However, there has been a resurgence in attacks since April, with at least 15 incidents reported this year, the highest number since 2013, according to the International Maritime Organization. At least five cargo ships have been taken hostage, with the most recent hijacking occurring on August 20 off the coast of Yemen.