Crime & Public Safety
MV LATUF freed as Somalia says 14 pirates killed
Turkey's navy and Somali armed forces freed the hijacked MV LATUF in Somali waters after a 10-day operation, Somalia's government said Saturday.
Somalia's defence ministry said four boats used by the pirates were destroyed and 14 pirates were killed. It said sustained military pressure forced the remaining pirates to abandon the ship, after which the vessel was secured and resumed its journey.
Sources in Puntland said at least eight crew members were on board, including one Turk.
Marine Traffic shows the vessel operates under a Cameroonian flag and left Turkey in late July bound for Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. International media reported that the MV LATUF was carrying Turkish weapons, but Somalia's federal authorities and authorities in Puntland did not confirm that information when contacted by AFP.
The joint Turkey-Somalia operation was carried out as part of a defence cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Piracy was widespread off Somalia's coast in the 2000s and peaked in 2011 before being curbed by international naval deployments and new protection measures for commercial shipping. The Horn of Africa has seen a resurgence in piracy since April, according to International Maritime Organization figures cited by AFP, with at least 15 attacks off Somalia this year, the highest since 2013.
AFP also reported that at least five cargo ships have been held hostage during the recent surge, the last of them seized on August 20 off Yemen.
Update
Sources in Puntland said at least eight crew members were on board, including one Turk.
International Maritime Organization figures cited a resurgence in piracy since April, with at least 15 attacks off Somalia this year, the highest since 2013.
Authorities in Puntland, as well as Somalia's federal authorities, did not confirm international media reports that the vessel was carrying Turkish weapons.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 18:12:28 UTC.
Update
The joint Turkey-Somalia operation was carried out as part of a defence cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Piracy off Somalia peaked in 2011 before being curbed by international naval deployments and shipping protection measures.
Attacks have surged since April, with at least five cargo ships held hostage, according to the supplied AFP account.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 17:31:56 UTC.
Update
Marine Traffic shows the MV LATUF operates under a Cameroonian flag.
Marine Traffic shows the vessel left Turkey in late July bound for Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
International media reported that the vessel was carrying Turkish weapons, but Somalia's federal authorities did not confirm that to AFP.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 17:14:31 UTC.
Update
Somalia's government said the operation lasted 10 days.
Somalia's government said four boats used by the pirates were destroyed.
Somalia's government said 14 pirates were killed.
The freed vessel was identified as the MV LATUF.
Somalia's government said the MV LATUF safely resumed its journey.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 16:57:16 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The reported Turkish weapons cargo has not been confirmed by Somalia's federal authorities or authorities in Puntland.
The full crew list and the exact number of people aboard the MV LATUF were not confirmed in the supplied information.
Source
AFP news report published on .