The Turkish Navy, in collaboration with Somali forces, rescued the Lütuf cargo ship from Somali pirates after a 10-day operation.
Turkish Naval Forces have successfully retrieved the cargo ship Lütuf, with a capacity of 1,400 DWT, which was captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia through a conducted operation. It was reported that the ship was transporting supplies to the TURKSOM Military Base in Somalia.
The Turkish cargo ship Lütuf, which came under the control of pirates approximately two weeks ago off the coast of Somalia, was rescued through a joint operation by Turkish and Somali forces. It was noted that the operation lasted about 10 days, and control of the ship was regained on the morning of Saturday, August 29.
According to sources, the pirates initially demanded a ransom of 10 million dollars for the release of the ship. It was suggested that this amount was later reduced to 2 million dollars, although these ransom demands have not been independently verified.
It was also reported that several clashes occurred between Somali forces and the pirates prior to the operation. Allegations in the media indicated that 4 to 6 pirates were killed when they left the ship in a small boat for resupply purposes. Subsequently, it was reported that the cargo ship was completely blockaded.
The ship had a crew of 10 members.
The Lütuf, built in 1995 and flying the flag of Cameroon, was attacked by pirates on August 17, Monday, approximately 4.5 nautical miles south of Maraya on Somalia's southern coast in the Indian Ocean.
It was reported that at least eight pirates boarded the ship and took control, while the total crew consisted of 10 members. The crew included 6 Indian nationals, 1 Turkish national, 1 Georgian, and 2 Serbian security personnel.
Somali authorities announced that after the operation, full control of the MV Lütuf had been regained and that the ship was continuing its voyage safely. Officials emphasized that piracy is a serious crime that warrants severe penalties and stated that those involved in the act would be brought to justice.
The threat of piracy in the region is back on the agenda.
It is estimated that Somali pirates still hold four ships that they have captured since April. Some countries, including Egypt and Pakistan, are continuing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of their citizens aboard the hijacked vessels.
Since the beginning of the year, it has been reported that 15 ships have been captured or attacked by pirates, raising security concerns again along critical maritime trade routes covering the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Analysts assess that the instability in the region has encouraged pirate activities.
Turkey's direct involvement in the Lütuf operation is seen as an indication of Ankara's approach to protecting its interests in maritime, military, energy, and infrastructure sectors in Somalia. According to sources, Turkey has deployed warships named TCG Kemalreis and TCG Yzb to the Horn of Africa for the purpose of combating piracy and ensuring the security of maritime routes in the region.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
