GAROWE, Somalia — August 27, 2026 — Puntland authorities have accused Turkey of carrying out two airstrikes near Garmaal and Jiifle in Somalia’s Nugaal region, killing 13 people identified by the regional administration as civilians. A senior Puntland security official said the administration had gathered sufficient evidence linking Turkish forces to the attacks.

Puntland’s Deputy Security Minister, Abdirahman Dujana, made the accusation during an interview, saying four people were killed in the first strike near Garmaal and nine others died in a second attack near Jiifle.

Dujana said Puntland possessed evidence showing that Turkey conducted both operations. He did not publicly disclose the evidence or explain how investigators reached their conclusion.

The claims have not been independently verified. The identity of the aircraft involved and the circumstances surrounding the selection of the targets remain disputed.

The first strike occurred near Garmaal after the hijacking of the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel M/V LUTUF off Puntland’s coast. The ship was reportedly seized on August 17 near Marraya in Eyl district before being moved toward the Nugaal coastline.

The vessel was carrying weapons, communications equipment and satellite equipment intended for Turkey’s TURKSOM military training facility in Mogadishu,

Turkish-owned vessels later approached the hijacked ship, while helicopters and drones monitored the area, the official said. An airstrike reportedly followed after a small boat visited the seized vessel and returned toward the coast.

Four people were killed and two others wounded. Initial reports described those killed as suspected pirates, but relatives, residents and Puntland authorities identified them as civilian fishermen. Neither account has been independently established.

The second strike was reported near Jiifle on August 23. Puntland officials said a missile struck a small boat that had departed from the Dhinowda Dhig coastal area, killing nine people.

Puntland and Federal Responses

Puntland has condemned the attacks and called for accountability, arguing that military operations affecting its territory and coastal communities should not take place without coordination with the regional administration.

Dujana’s statement marks Puntland’s clearest public accusation against Turkey since the strikes began. Earlier regional statements condemned the attacks but stopped short of naming the country believed to be responsible.

Somalia’s State Minister of Defence, Omar Ali Abdi, said the federal government had prior knowledge of the Garmaal operation. He also questioned Puntland’s assertion that the four people killed were fishermen rather than individuals linked to piracy.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reportedly told BBC Somali that it had no information about an airstrike conducted by Turkish warplanes in the area. The statement did not explicitly confirm or deny Turkish military involvement.

No detailed findings from an independent investigation have been released. Puntland has not said whether it intends to present its evidence to the federal government, Turkey or an international body.

Previous Civilian Casualty Allegations

The controversy follows earlier concerns about civilian casualties during Somali military operations supported by Turkish drones.

On March 18, 2024, two strikes near Bagdad village in the Lower Shabelle region killed 23 civilians, including 14 children and five women, according to an Amnesty International investigation⁠. Seventeen other civilians were reportedly injured.

Amnesty said the strikes occurred during operations involving the Somali military and Turkish TB-2 drones. The rights organisation called on Somalia and Turkey to investigate whether the attacks violated international humanitarian law.

Somalia’s federal government rejected Amnesty’s findings, saying it had no information showing that civilians were killed during the operation. Questions also remained over whether Turkish or Somali personnel controlled the drones when the missiles were launched.

Turkey is one of Somalia’s most influential security partners. Ankara trains Somali troops at its military facility in Mogadishu and supplies equipment to federal forces fighting Al-Shabaab.

Turkey has also expanded its operational role in Somalia. In July 2026, Somalia’s Defence Ministry said Turkish F-16 aircraft supported strikes against suspected Al-Shabaab positions in Lower Shabelle.

Puntland’s accusations could strain relations between the regional administration, Somalia’s federal government and Turkey. The dispute raises questions about authorization, coordination and civilian protection during foreign military operations in Somalia.

The strikes may also complicate counter-piracy efforts along the Puntland coast. Cooperation with fishing communities is important for gathering information about hijacked vessels and suspected pirate movements. Fear of additional attacks could discourage local residents from working with security agencies.

The dispute comes as piracy shows signs of renewed activity in waters off Somalia. The hijacking of the M/V LUTUF and uncertainty over its crew and cargo have added urgency to demands for a coordinated response.