At least four men are feared dead after a suspected attack by Turkish forces targeted a small skiff believed to be carrying Somali pirates near Eyl, Puntland, on Tuesday afternoon, according to local residents.
Witnesses said Turkish naval vessels had been spotted operating in the area shortly before the incident.
The identities of the men have not yet been established, and there has been no official confirmation from Turkish or Somali authorities regarding the reported strike or casualties.
The incident came only hours after eight armed men reportedly hijacked the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel LUTUF near Mareeyo, off Puntland’s Bari coast.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said eight armed individuals boarded the vessel and took control of it, prompting authorities to launch an investigation and issue a warning to ships operating in the area.
LUTUF was reportedly sailing from Turkey toward Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, when the armed men boarded the vessel.
Maritime publication SeaTrade Maritime, citing a private maritime security company, identified the ship as LUTUF, a general cargo vessel built in 1995.
However, UKMTO has not independently confirmed the vessel’s name or ownership.
The reported Turkish military response, if confirmed, would mark a significant development amid renewed concerns over piracy along Somalia’s coastline.
Turkish naval forces have maintained a presence in Somali waters as part of broader maritime security cooperation, while Somalia’s coast remains strategically important because of its proximity to major shipping routes linking the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
The circumstances surrounding the reported strike remain unclear, including whether the men on the skiff were directly connected to the LUTUF hijacking.
No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the vessel seizure, and authorities have yet to establish the identities of those who boarded the ship.
The incident also raises questions about the security response to renewed piracy activity and the potential risks to fishing communities and other vessels operating along Puntland’s coastline.
Any confirmed military action near Eyl could further heighten tensions in an area where commercial shipping, local fishing and international maritime security operations overlap.
Further information is expected on the fate of the LUTUF crew, the vessel’s current location, the identities of the armed men and the circumstances surrounding the reported attack near Eyl.
Until official details emerge, reports of the deaths and the alleged Turkish strikes remain unconfirmed.