Turkish and Somali forces free hijacked vessel from pirates

Turkish and Somali forces have freed the MV LUTUF, a Turkish vessel hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, the country's defense ministry said on Saturday. The Cameroon-flagged ship was seized on August 17 in the Nugaal region of Puntland state. According to the ministry, the operation resulted in the destruction of four pirate boats and the deaths of 14 alleged pirates. The remaining attackers fled, allowing security forces to regain control of the vessel. The mission was conducted under a defense cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkey, aimed at bolstering maritime security and combating piracy. The ministry did not provide details regarding the condition of the crew or potential casualties among the security forces. However, a local elder, Abdullahi Warsame, confirmed to the Associated Press that the vessel and its crew had been freed. The hijacking of the MV LUTUF has raised fresh concerns regarding a resurgence of piracy along the Somali coast.