September 16, 2008 incident off Somalia

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Action of 16 September 2008
partof=the Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa


caption=
date=16 March 2008
place= 300 miles of the coast of Somalia
result= French victory
combatant1=flagcountry|France
combatant2=Somali Pirates
strength1=1 frigate
30 commandos
strength2=1 captured yacht
7 pirates
casualties1=none
casualties2=1 yacht recaptured
1 killed
6 captured

The Action of 16 September 2008 was a military operation conducted by France to retake the "Carre d'As", a yacht which had been captured by Somali pirates on September 2, 2008.

Background

The 50 foot yacht "Carre d'As" 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 "Carre d'As". 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, killing him. 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.

ources

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