Turkish and Somali forces have freed a cargo ship held by pirates off Somalia’s coast. The operation took place near Puntland, a semi-autonomous region. Somali authorities said 14 pirates died in the raid. Four of their boats were also destroyed.
The Somali Defence Ministry said sustained pressure forced the remaining pirates to abandon the vessel. The rescue was carried out under a defence agreement between Somalia and Turkiye. The deal aims to strengthen maritime security and combat piracy.
The ministry did not give details on casualties or the crew’s condition. However, a local elder told The Associated Press that the vessel and crew had been freed.
The MV Latuf left Turkey in late July. It was hijacked on August 17 off Puntland’s coast. The ship has since continued its journey to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
Piracy was rampant off Somalia in the 2000s. It peaked in 2011 before international patrols reduced it. However, attacks have surged since April. At least 15 attacks have occurred this year. That is the highest number since 2013. At least five cargo ships have been held hostage. The latest was seized on August 20 off Yemen’s coast.
Reference
Al Jazeera, “Turkiye, Somalia forces free cargo vessel hijacked by pirates,” published August 30, 2026. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/30/turkiye-somalia-forces-frees-cargo-vessel-hijacked-by-pirates