Six fishermen were reported killed and three others injured in an airstrike on the coast of Jiifle in the Nugaal region of Puntland this afternoon.
A boat passing by the Jiifle coast was reportedly hit by a missile, with initial reports indicating that the boat was carrying individuals linked to piracy.
A resident of Jiifle who spoke to local media said that one of the pirates aboard the M/V LUTUF, which was said to be carrying supplies and weapons, disembarked from the vessel and then headed towards the shore.
According to the resident, a fisherman on the shore rushed to the vessel and was shortly thereafter hit by a missile.
The death toll is feared to be higher, and it is not clear why it was targeted or where the aircraft that carried out the attack were from, although residents have blamed the Turkish government.
The incident comes as the LUTUF, a ship seized by pirates last week, is being held off the coast of Nugal. The ship was said to be carrying weapons, communications equipment and satellite equipment bound for a Turkish training center in Mogadishu.
An earlier shelling off the coast of Nugal also killed four people, although it has not yet been officially identified who carried out the attacks.
Puntland has demanded that the parties responsible for the shelling provide details about operations taking place off its coast.