Joint Turkish-Somali operation frees hijacked cargo ship, killing 14 pirates
Somali and Turkish forces rescued the Cameroon-flagged MV Latuf after a 10-day operation off Puntland. The Somali Defence Ministry reported 14 pirates killed and four boats destroyed. The vessel, which was hijacked on August 17, has resumed its voyage to Tanzania.
The MV Latuf, a Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel, departed the Turkish port of Tekirdag in late July before being seized on August 17 in waters near Puntland's Nugal region. The 10-day rescue effort, carried out under a bilateral defence cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkiye, involved sustained pressure that forced remaining pirates to abandon the ship. Four pirate boats were destroyed during the operation, and the vessel has since resumed its journey toward Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Piracy off Somalia's coast reached its peak in 2011 before international naval patrols suppressed it, but attacks have risen sharply since April of this year. At least 15 incidents have been recorded off Somalia in 2026, the highest annual figure since 2013, with five cargo ships taken hostage, including one seized near Yemen on August 20. The operation reflects growing regional efforts to counter this resurgence.
This successful rescue could signal a turning point in addressing the recent surge of Somali piracy, potentially deterring future hijackings and reassuring shipping companies that transit the Gulf of Aden. The operation may also strengthen regional security cooperation, particularly between Somalia and Turkiye, while providing a measure of relief to seafarers and the families of the crew. However, the broader pattern of increased attacks may still raise insurance costs for commercial shipping and complicate maritime trade through one of the world's busiest corridors.