September 16, 2008 Incident Off Somalia Information
The September 16, 2008, incident off Somalia was a military operation conducted by France to retake the Carré d'As IV, a yacht which had been captured by Somali pirates on September 2, 2008.
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Background
The 50 foot yacht Carré d'As IV had been sailing from Australia to the Suez Canal when on September 2 it was attacked by pirates and captured with its two crew, Jean-Yves and Bernadette Delanne being taken and held for ransom. Four days later the French frigate Le Courbet arrived on the scene and began shadowing the captured yacht. When contacted, the pirates demanded a one million dollar ransom and the release of six other pirates that were in French custody. The pirates then set course for the city of Eyl on the coast of Puntland, which many pirate gangs use as a base of operations.
Action
The French government refused to negotiate and instead sent in a military team of 30 combat divers to assault and retake the Carré d'As IV. After arriving on the le Courbet, the commandos were flown by helicopter and dropped off by parachute into the sea close to the yacht. The commandos then swam to the captured vessel and boarded her with grappling hooks. The pirates were taken completely by surprise and only one pirate attempted to resist and was quickly shot and killed. Six other pirates on the yacht were captured, and the two hostages were released ten minutes after the assault began.
Aftermath
The French authorities then took the pirates to Djibouti where they will be flown to France to stand trial. French President Sarkozy stated that the pirates would only be handed over to Somali authorities if it was clear that they would be prosecuted and punished for their actions.
Sources
- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4765041.ece
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/2686823/1million-ransom-for-French-couple-seized-on-yacht.html
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Categories: Maritime incidents in 2008 | 2008 in France | Conflicts in 2008 | Naval battles of Operation Enduring Freedom | 2008 in Somalia | Military history of France | Naval battles involving pirates
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