Turkey and Somalia have freed a ship seized by pirates off the coast of Puntland in northeastern Somalia following a 10-day military operation that killed 14 pirates, the government in Mogadishu announced.
Somali authorities said Turkish and Somali forces maintained “continuous military pressure” throughout the operation, eventually forcing the remaining pirates to abandon the vessel.
Piracy has resurged off the Horn of Africa since April, with at least 15 attacks off the Somali coast since the beginning of 2026. According to an Agence France-Presse analysis based on data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), that marks the highest number since 2013.
Turkish and Somali forces free MV LATUF
The Turkish Navy, working with the Somali national army, freed the MV LATUF, which pirates seized on August 17, 2026, near the coast of Jiffl in the Eyl area of Nugaal region, Puntland, according to a statement from Somalia’s Defence Ministry.
The ministry did not specify what cargo the vessel carried.
“Four vessels used by the pirates were destroyed and 14 pirates were killed” during the 10-day operation, the statement said.
“Continuous military pressure eventually forced the remaining pirates to abandon the ship.”
The Turkish forces then secured the MV LATUF and ensured its safe passage, allowing the vessel to continue its journey safely, according to the Somali Defence Ministry.
Turkish weapons reportedly found aboard
According to the vessel-tracking website MarineTraffic, the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship left Turkey in late July and was sailing towards the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
International media reported that Turkish weapons were aboard the vessel. However, when AFP asked about the reports, federal Somali authorities and the Puntland authorities did not confirm the information.
Sources in Puntland said at least eight crew members were aboard the vessel, including one Turkish national.
Somali piracy resurgence
The latest operation comes amid a renewed wave of piracy in waters around Somalia.
At least five vessels remain in the hands of Somali pirates, with the latest seizure occurring on August 20 off the coast of Yemen.
The successful recovery of the MV LATUF represents a significant joint operation between Turkey and Somalia as authorities attempt to contain the renewed piracy threat in the waters surrounding the Horn of Africa.
