MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland authorities have strongly condemned an airstrike near Garmaal on Somalia’s northeastern coast that killed four people and wounded two others, saying the victims were civilian fishermen and warning that attacks against civilians could seriously damage cooperation between Puntland’s security agencies and international partners fighting piracy.
Wararka Soomaaliya
The Puntland Ministry of Security, in a statement issued Friday, said the government opposed military strikes by international forces against civilians and their property in coastal areas where hijacked vessels are being held.
Puntland called on the government responsible for the operation to provide an immediate explanation of the motive behind the strikes reported around Garmaal on August 19 and 20. The ministry did not identify the country involved.
The statement comes amid mounting scrutiny of an airstrike that followed the August 17 hijacking of the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel M/V LUTUF off Puntland. According to reporting based on a Somali official, the vessel was seized near Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district and was subsequently taken toward the Nugaal coast near Garmaal in Dangoroyo district.
Faahfaahinta
The LUTUF was reportedly carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment and satellite equipment destined for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. Its 10-member crew included six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security guards, according to the Somali official cited by the Associated Press.
Deadly strike followed the hijacking
The sequence of events has placed the strike under intense scrutiny.
Saamaynta
The pirates who seized the LUTUF were believed to be members of a group previously linked to the April hijacking of the M/V Sward. After taking control of the vessel, they reportedly moved it toward the coast near Garmaal. Turkish-owned vessels subsequently approached the area, while Turkish helicopters and drones were reported to have monitored the hijacked ship.
On Tuesday, according to the Somali official cited by AP, a small boat carrying a number of men approached the hijacked vessel and delivered khat. After the boat returned toward the shore, an airstrike followed, killing four men and wounding two others.
Initial reports described those killed as suspected pirates. Subsequent local accounts, however, identified them as fishermen, while Puntland authorities said the victims were civilians. Other reporting has noted that the identities and affiliations of those killed have not been independently established.
Wararka.so waxay kuu soo tebineysaa wararka ugu dambeeyey ee Soomaaliya iyo caalamka. Si aad ula socoto wararkii ugu dambeeyey, booqo boggayaga.
