Puntland accuses Türkiye of deadly airstrikes off Nugaal coast

Puntland authorities have accused Türkiye and the Somali federal government of conducting deadly airstrikes along the Nugaal coast. These allegations follow the August 17 hijacking of the Cameroon-flagged vessel M/V Lutuf by Somali pirates.

Puntland Deputy Security Minister Abdirahman Yusuf Dujaana stated that the region has information regarding Turkish activity near the ship and the coast. While no government or armed group has officially claimed responsibility, the strikes occurred after pirates redirected the vessel, which was reportedly carrying Turkish-supplied weapons and communications equipment intended for a military training center in Mogadishu.

Two specific incidents were reported. On August 18, a strike near Garmaal killed four people and wounded two. While some reports identified the victims as suspected pirates, local residents and relatives claimed they were fishermen. A second strike on August 23 in the Jiifle area of Godobjiran district reportedly killed nine people, with witnesses describing badly burned bodies. Dujaana has not provided independently verifiable evidence to substantiate the claims against Türkiye.