Turkey has successfully neutralised four pirates involved in the hijacking of the M/V LUTUF, a cargo ship flying the Cameroon flag and reportedly carrying Turkish weapons. The vessel was seized off Somalia’s Nugaal coast and had a crew of ten, including six Indian nationals. Their current condition remains unknown. Turkish authorities had been monitoring the situation closely since the hijacking and had issued a deadline to the Somali pirates for the release of the ship.
In response to the hijacking, two Turkish-owned vessels, along with helicopters and drones, were dispatched to the area. Turkish forces observed a small boat approaching the hijacked vessel, which was reportedly delivering khat, a stimulant commonly consumed in Somalia. After the boat returned to shore, Turkish airstrikes targeted the pirates, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to two others, though it remains unclear if those killed were directly involved in the hijacking.
The M/V LUTUF is owned by Polar Movement Shipping and was carrying military supplies, including weapons and communications equipment, destined for a military training facility in Mogadishu. However, Somali media suggests an alternative narrative, claiming the cargo might be connected to Turkish space projects in Somalia. Turkey maintains a significant military presence in the region, bolstered by a longstanding security partnership with the Somali government, which includes training elite Somali forces.
