Turkish, Somali Forces Free Pirate-Seized Vessel in Somalia
Turkish and Somali forces have freed the MV LUTUF after pirates hijacked the vessel off the coast of Somalia.
Turkish and Somali forces have successfully freed a hijacked vessel in Somali waters, killing 14 suspected pirates after a lengthy battle, according to the Somali government. The operation, which spanned 10 days, saw the destruction of four pirate boats and the defeat of the remaining pirates who fled the ship. The MV LUTUF, a vessel flagged to Cameroon, was seized on August 17 off the coast of Puntland state.
The joint military effort between Turkey and Somalia was carried out under a defense cooperation agreement between the two nations. While the exact details of any casualties or the condition of the crew aboard the MV LUTUF were not provided by the ministry, it was confirmed that the vessel has now safely resumed its journey. At least eight crew members were on board, including one Turkish national.
The Horn of Africa has witnessed a surge in piracy since April, with 15 attacks reported this year, the highest since 2013. The previous peak in piracy occurred in 2011, but international naval deployments and safety measures for commercial shipping had helped curb the issue. Piracy has also resurfaced along the West African coast in recent years, adding another layer of risk for commercial shipping in the Middle East.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
