Friday, July 31, 2009
The General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement posted on its website that the operation on Friday was supported by a helicopter and commandos aboard the Turkish navy frigate TCG vessel Gediz, deployed at the Aden Gulf.
The commandos raided a skiff boat and neutralized seven pirates before they could attack a ship, according to the statement. A picture showing the pirates in surrender was attached.
In June, the TCG Gediz set sail from Turkey to Somalia as part of a U.N.-led force to prevent pirates from hijacking foreign ships off the Somali coast and was the second Turkish ship sent to the region.
On July 24, the same Turkish frigate captured five pirates in an operation in the Aden Gulf, according to Metin Gurak, head of the Turkish General Staff's Communication Department.
Source: Xinhua, July 31, 2009