According to a Jan. 4 report from Radio Netherlands Worldwide, French sailors have thwarted two attempts to hijack ships in the Gulf of Aden. The French intervened when Somali pirates tried to enter two cargo ships, one sailing under the Croatian and the other under the Panamanian flag. Nineteen pirates were arrested and handed over to the Somali authorities. The French authorities had already prevented an attack on another Panamanian ship in the straight between Somali and Yemen three days ago.
(Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide)