Iranian fishermen rescued from Somali pirates by the U.S. Navy

[Netphase]

Now 13 Iranians are on board one of the exact ships that Iran warned not to return after they sailed out through the Strait of Hormuz last week.

According to the Navy, a helicopter from the Kidd spotted a suspect pirate boat alongside the Iranian vessel. At the same time, the Kidd received a distress call from the captain of ship, the Al Molai, saying he and his crew were being held captive by pirates.

A team from the Kidd boarded the Al Molai, took 15 suspected pirates into custody and freed 13 Iranian hostages, the Navy said.

The suspected pirates, mostly Somalis, were taken to the Stennis to be held until a decision is made about prosecution, Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby said Friday.

Pirates hijacked the Al Molai 40 to 45 days ago, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement. The crew was "held hostage, with limited rations and we believe were forced against their will to assist the pirates with other piracy operations," according to the statement.

The Navy team provided food, water and medical care to both the suspected pirates and the crew of the Al Molai after securing the ship and ensuring everyone was safe, Schminky said.

The crew had "been though a lot," he said.

"We went out of our way to treat the fishing crew with kindness and respect," he said.

Full Article...

U.S. Navy rescues Iranian sailors - CNN.com

 

[Dr.Pepper]

Owned.

 

[stickyicky]

So they were hijacked 45 days ago yet still had access to the radio for the distress call?

 

[craigmc]

Would love to hear from the Revolutionary Guards about his.

 

[lukep]

Drama drama drama...

 

[Ar Scion]

You know what's the scary part of the story?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/w...rates-us-to-the-rescue.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2

The Mobile Bay’s sailors began to take the pirates’ fingerprints and photographs for a biometric database.

Since when do American sailors have the right to collect fingerprints and biometric data outside US territory?

 

[Fatbat]

You know what's the scary part of the story?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/w...rates-us-to-the-rescue.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2



Since when do American sailors have the right to collect fingerprints and biometric data outside US territory?

They should just keel haul them and feed them to the sharks instead.

 

[zdmyn]

You know what's the scary part of the story?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/w...rates-us-to-the-rescue.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2



Since when do American sailors have the right to collect fingerprints and biometric data outside US territory?

Ever since Somali pirates have made it their right to hijack fishing vessels for ransom money..?

 

[vgeek]

What do "other piracy operations" entail? Widdling new peg-legs? Sewing new eye patches? Sharpening their hooks?

 

[paradigmcontent]

It's wild and crazy in those waters. Wouldn't want to be an American (or even a European) there unless I had a friendly battleship around me. Some places are better to read about than to see.

 

[cheshire]

Since when do American sailors have the right to collect fingerprints and biometric data outside US territory?

International waters, there is no law or civil rights there.