World News
Turkish and Somali forces free hijacked vessel off Somalia's coast, defense ministry says
Fourteen suspected pirates were killed during the operation to rescue the Cameroon-flagged MV LUTUF.
The short version
- Joint Turkish and Somali forces rescued the hijacked vessel MV LUTUF off the Somali coast.
- The Cameroon-flagged ship had been seized by pirates on Aug. 17 in the Nugaal region of Puntland state.
- Somalia's defense ministry reported 14 suspected pirates were killed and four pirate craft were destroyed.
- The ministry did not immediately provide information regarding the physical condition of the vessel's crew.
Key facts
- Somalia's defense ministry stated that Turkish and Somali forces rescued the MV LUTUF under a bilateral defense cooperation agreement.[Associated Press]
- The Cameroon-flagged vessel was original seized by pirates on Aug. 17 off Puntland's Nugaal region.[Associated Press]
- During the operation, 14 alleged pirates were killed and four pirate vessels were destroyed, according to the ministry.[Associated Press]
- Local elder Abdullahi Warsame separately confirmed that the vessel and crew were released.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- The Somali defense ministry did not disclose details on whether any crew members suffered casualties or what condition they were in following the rescue.[Associated Press]