Turkish and Somali Forces Successfully Free Hijacked Cargo Vessel Off Puntland Coast

Turkish and Somali forces have successfully rescued a cargo ship that was held captive by pirates off the coast of Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland state, according to local authorities. In a statement shared on X on Saturday, the Somali Ministry of Defence announced that "14 pirates" were killed during the operation to liberate the Cameroon-flagged MV Latuf. Additionally, four of their boats were destroyed in the raid.

The Defence Ministry explained that "sustained pressure from the forces ultimately compelled the remaining pirates to abandon the vessel," which allowed the military units to secure full control of the ship. This rescue mission was executed under an existing defence cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkiye designed to enhance maritime security, safeguard Somalia’s coastline, and combat piracy.

While the Somali Defence Ministry did not disclose specific details regarding any casualties or the current condition of the ship's crew, local elder Abdullahi Warsame—representing the Jiifle community in the Godob Jiraan district of Puntland’s Nugal region—confirmed to The Associated Press news agency that both the vessel and its crew have been freed.

The MV Latuf originally departed from the Turkish Port of Tekirdag in late July before being hijacked on August 17 in the waters off the Nugal region of Puntland, a semi-autonomous federal state located in northeastern Somalia. Data from the Marine Traffic website indicates that the cargo ship has now resumed its voyage toward its intended destination in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.

Although piracy was widespread off the coast of Somalia during the 2000s and peaked in 2011 before international naval deployments and commercial shipping protections successfully curbed it, recent trends show a resurgence. Figures from the International Maritime Organization reveal that attacks have surged since April, with at least 15 incidents recorded off the coast of Somalia this year—marking the highest total since 2013—with at least five cargo ships held hostage, including one seized on August 20 off the coast of Yemen.