Turkiye, Somalia forces free cargo vessel hijacked by pirates

What the report says

Turkish and Somali forces have freed a cargo vessel that was seized by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland coast, according to Al Jazeera’s report, which cites Somali authorities and a local elder. The ship, the Cameroon-flagged MV Latuf, had been held since August 17 after being hijacked in waters near Puntland’s Nugal region. Somali officials said the 10-day operation ended with the vessel back under control.

In a statement, Somalia’s Defence Ministry said 14 pirates were killed during the operation and that four of their boats were destroyed. The ministry said pressure from the security forces forced the remaining pirates to abandon the ship. It did not give details on the crew’s condition, although local elder Abdullahi Warsame told the Associated Press that both the vessel and its crew had been freed.

The rescue took place under a defence cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkiye, aimed at improving maritime security, protecting Somalia’s coastline and countering piracy. According to the report, the MV Latuf had departed the Turkish port of Tekirdag in late July and was en route to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The ship has reportedly continued its voyage after the rescue.

The incident comes amid a broader uptick in piracy in the region. Al Jazeera notes that attacks off Somalia have risen since April, with maritime authorities recording at least 15 incidents this year, the highest level since 2013.