Joint Forces End Pirate Hold on Cargo Ship, 14 Pirates Killed
Turkish and Somali forces rescued a cargo ship this week. They freed the Cameroon-flagged MV Latuf from pirates. The rescue happened off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland state. Fourteen pirates died in the 10-day operation.
The Somali Ministry of Defence announced the successful mission on Saturday. Forces destroyed four pirate boats during the rescue. The ministry said constant pressure forced the remaining pirates to abandon the vessel. This allowed forces to take control of the ship.
This joint operation happened under a defence agreement. Somalia and Turkiye signed this agreement. It aims to make the seas safer. It also protects Somalia’s coastline and fights piracy.
The MV Latuf had left the Turkish Port of Tekirdag in late July. Pirates hijacked it on August 17. This happened in waters near Puntland. Puntland is a semi-autonomous state in northeastern Somalia.
The Somali Defence Ministry did not share details about the ship’s crew. It also did not report any casualties among them. However, a local elder named Abdullahi Warsame confirmed the crew’s freedom. The MV Latuf is now continuing its journey. It is sailing to Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
Piracy was a big problem off Somalia in the 2000s. It reached its peak in 2011. International naval forces then helped reduce the attacks. New protection methods for shipping also worked.
However, pirate attacks have risen again since April this year. There have been at least 15 attacks off Somalia’s coast. This is the highest number since 2013. At least five cargo ships have been held hostage this year. The latest ship was seized on August 20 off Yemen.
