On 29 September, the EU NAVFOR Italian ship ITS LIBECCIO freed an Iranian-flagged pirated dhow, which had been located off Tanzania yesterday by an EU NAVFOR French Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA).
The French MPRA located the dhow towing a whaler and two skiffs, indicating that it had possibly been pirated. The MPRA maintained surveillance until ITS LIBECCIO arrived in the area and launched her helicopter to investigate.
Warning shots were fired from the helicopter in an attempt to stop the dhow. The dhow initially refused to stop and was shadowed overnight by ITS LIBECCIO. The pirates finally agreed to surrender on the morning of 29 September, after radio contact was established between warship and Iranian-flagged pirated dhow which confirmed there were 10 pirates and 7 crew members.
EU NAVFOR forces continue to actively assess and respond to this ongoing operation.