GAROWE, Somalia — August 21, 2026 — Puntland has demanded an immediate explanation from governments operating international warships accused of carrying out strikes near Garmaal in the Nugaal region on August 18 and 20, saying the operations targeted fishermen and civilian property amid a renewed campaign against piracy.
Puntland demands an urgent response
Puntland’s Ministry of Security and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration issued the demand in a statement on Friday, calling on the governments responsible for the vessels to disclose the purpose of the operations.
The ministry did not identify the countries or warships allegedly involved. It also provided no detailed casualty figures or evidence establishing responsibility for the reported attacks.
No foreign government or international naval force had publicly claimed responsibility for the strikes at the time of the statement.
The Puntland administration said it strongly opposed attacks by foreign warships on coastal communities and civilian vessels operating close to ships held by suspected pirates.
It warned that such operations could endanger fishermen and other residents who have no connection to piracy.
Puntland said military action conducted without adequate coordination could undermine cooperation between its security institutions and international partners involved in protecting shipping off Somalia’s coast.
The Puntland statement did not specify whether anyone was killed or injured in the two incidents.
However, a Somali official told the Associated Press that an airstrike on August 18 killed four men and wounded two after a small boat returned to shore from a hijacked commercial vessel near Garmaal.
The official said the boat had delivered khat to suspected pirates holding the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship M/V LUTUF. The circumstances of the strike and whether those hit were connected to the hijacking could not be independently confirmed.
Information about the alleged second strike on August 20 remains limited. Puntland said fishermen and their property were targeted during the operations, but this claim has not been independently verified.
The regional government called for greater transparency over foreign military activity in and around Puntland’s territorial waters.
M/V LUTUF hijacking
The dispute follows the hijacking of the M/V LUTUF off Puntland’s coast on August 17.
According to a Somali official cited by the Associated Press, eight armed men seized the vessel about 3.5 nautical miles from Marraya in Eyl district and moved it toward the coastline near Garmaal in Dangoroyo district.
The vessel was reportedly carrying weapons, communications equipment and satellite technology intended for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. Its 10 crew members included six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security personnel.
Turkish-owned vessels, helicopters and drones were subsequently reported near the hijacked ship. Turkish authorities had not publicly confirmed responsibility for the Garmaal strikes.
The location and condition of the vessel, its cargo and crew remained unclear following the Puntland statement.
Puntland warns against foreign interests
Puntland condemned the return of piracy along its coastline and reaffirmed its commitment to combating maritime crime.
The administration said it was prepared to cooperate with governments and international organizations seeking to free hijacked vessels and restore safe navigation.
At the same time, the ministry alleged that external actors may be using counter-piracy operations to advance undisclosed political or economic interests. It did not identify the actors or provide evidence supporting the allegation.
The statement called for international maritime operations to be coordinated with Puntland’s security agencies and conducted in a way that protects coastal populations.
Piracy off Somalia declined sharply after reaching its peak more than a decade ago, following the deployment of international naval forces, improved security measures aboard commercial ships and stronger regional enforcement.
Recent hijackings have renewed concerns about maritime insecurity. In April, suspected pirates seized the St. Kitts and Nevis-flagged cargo ship Sward near Garacad, shortly after another vessel was taken off the Somali coast.
The European Union’s Operation Atalanta remains mandated to deter piracy and armed robbery at sea, protect vulnerable shipping and cooperate with regional authorities. Its official mission also includes responding to illicit maritime activity in the western Indian Ocean.
The Puntland demand highlights the risks created when foreign military forces operate near populated coastal areas without publicly identifying themselves or explaining the legal and operational basis for their actions.
A lack of coordination can also make it difficult to distinguish fishermen from suspected pirates, particularly when both use similar small boats. Civilian casualties or damage to fishing equipment could increase mistrust of international naval missions and weaken cooperation with coastal communities.
The confrontation also comes as renewed hijackings threaten commercial shipping and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the sea. Puntland’s response indicates that it wants continued international action against piracy, but under arrangements that recognize its local security role and provide safeguards for civilians.
