Turkish and Somali forces have freed a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship seized by pirates off the coast of Puntland, a semi-autonomous federal state in northeastern Somalia, following a 10-day operation that left 14 pirates dead. Somalia's Ministry of Defence announced the successful rescue on Saturday, saying that sustained pressure from the joint forces ultimately compelled the remaining pirates to abandon the vessel, allowing troops to take full control of the ship.
The MV Latuf had departed from the Turkish port of Tekirdağ in late July, bound for the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam. It was hijacked on 17 August in waters off the Nugal region of Puntland. During the operation, four pirate boats were destroyed, and those who survived fled the vessel. According to the Marine Traffic shipping database, the MV Latuf has since resumed its voyage toward its original destination. A local elder from the nearby Jiifle community confirmed that both the vessel and its crew had been freed, though the Somali Defence Ministry provided no specific details about crew casualties or their condition.
The operation was carried out under a defence cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkey, a framework aimed at strengthening maritime security, protecting Somalia's coastline, and combating piracy. Turkey's development and aid agency, TIKA, separately announced this week the completion of maintenance and repairs on two patrol boats belonging to the Somali Navy and Coast Guard, returning them to active service — a further sign of deepening bilateral maritime cooperation.
Piracy off the Somali coast was rampant throughout the 2000s, peaking in 2011, before being brought largely under control through coordinated international naval deployments and enhanced protection measures for commercial shipping. However, attacks have surged again since April, with at least 15 incidents recorded off Somalia's coast this year — the highest figure since 2013, according to the International Maritime Organization. At least five cargo ships have been taken hostage during this period, including vessels carrying oil, fertiliser, and chemicals. The most recent seizure occurred on 20 August off the coast of Yemen.
The resurgence of piracy poses a growing challenge to shipping in the broader region, particularly as the Red Sea and surrounding waters have become even more critical transit routes for global supply chains. Maritime security analysts warn that without sustained naval presence and regional capacity-building, the gains made against piracy over the past decade remain fragile.