Kathmandu— Turkish and Somali forces have successfully freed a Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel, the MV Latuf, that was hijacked off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland state. The ten-day operation, conducted under a defense cooperation agreement between the two countries, resulted in the deaths of 14 alleged pirates and the destruction of four boats, according to Somali authorities. The hijacking occurred on August 17th in waters near the Nugal region of Puntland, after the vessel departed from Turkey in late July; it is now en route to Tanzania.

Joint Operation Details

The Somali Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday that sustained pressure from combined forces compelled the pirates to abandon the MV Latuf, allowing authorities to regain control. The ministry stated that fourteen pirates were killed during the operation and four boats used by the hijackers were destroyed. Local elder Abdullahi Warsame, from the Jiifle community in the Godob Jiraan district of Puntland’s Nugal region, confirmed to the Associated Press that both the vessel and its crew had been freed.

Resurgence of Somali Piracy

Piracy off the coast of Somalia was a significant problem in the 2000s, peaking around 2011. International naval patrols and enhanced security measures for commercial shipping successfully reduced incidents for several years. However, attacks have seen a marked increase since April, with at least fifteen reported incidents this year – the highest number since 2013. The International Maritime Organization reports that at least five cargo ships have been taken hostage, including one seized off the coast of Yemen on August 20th.

Defense Cooperation Agreement

The rescue operation was carried out as part of a defense cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkiye. This agreement aims to bolster maritime security, protect Somalia’s coastline, and combat piracy in the region. The MV Latuf had departed from the Turkish Port of Tekirdag before being intercepted by pirates.

Vessel's Current Status

According to Marine Traffic data, the MV Latuf has resumed its voyage and is currently headed towards its intended destination of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. The Somali Defence Ministry did not release information regarding any potential casualties among the ship’s crew or their current condition.

The successful liberation of the MV Latuf highlights ongoing efforts to address the resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia and secure vital shipping lanes.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.