Pirates hijack cargo ship carrying Turkish weapons off Somalia coast, six Indians among crew

Eight pirates hijacked the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship M/V LUTUF off Somalia's Puntland coast on August 17, 2026. The vessel, owned by Polar Movement Shipping, was carrying Turkish weapons and communications equipment bound for a military training facility in Mogadishu. The 10-member crew includes six Indian nationals, one Turk, one Georgian, and two Serbian guards. Following the hijacking, Turkish military assets monitored the area, and an unverified airstrike killed four men after a local boat delivered khat to the ship.

M/V LUTUF hijacking off Somalia

• ▪The hijackers of the M/V LUTUF are believed to be linked to a pirate group previously involved in the hijacking of the M/V Sward on April 26, 2026.
• ▪Eight pirates hijacked the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship M/V LUTUF on August 17, 2026, approximately 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland's Eyl district, Somalia.

Turkish military cargo shipment

• ▪The M/V LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment, and satellite equipment intended for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu, Somalia.
• ▪The M/V LUTUF is owned by Polar Movement Shipping, and Turkish authorities did not immediately comment on the vessel's hijacking.

Multinational crew composition

• ▪The 10-member crew of the hijacked M/V LUTUF comprised six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian national, and two Serbian security guards.
• ▪The status and safety of the M/V LUTUF crew, cargo, and vessel remained unclear following the hijacking on August 17, 2026.

Turkish surveillance response

• ▪Two Turkish-owned vessels approached the hijacked M/V LUTUF, while Turkish helicopters and drones monitored the area off the Puntland coast.
• ▪A small boat carrying two men approached the M/V LUTUF on August 18, 2026, to deliver khat, a stimulant commonly chewed in Somalia.

Airstrike aftermath casualties

• ▪An airstrike conducted after the delivery boat returned to shore killed four men and wounded two others, though the actor responsible remains unverified.
• ▪It could not be independently verified whether the six casualties of the airstrike on August 18, 2026, were involved in the hijacking of the M/V LUTUF.

Somali piracy resurgence

• ▪Piracy remains an active security concern along the coastline of Somalia, where armed groups continue to seize commercial vessels and hold crews for ransom.
• ▪The presence of Turkish military cargo on the M/V LUTUF highlights Turkey's longstanding military and security role in Somalia.

4 sources