Pirates hijack Italian tugboat in Gulf of Aden

An Italian tugboat sent a distress call to a NATO ship Saturday before it was hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, the tug’s owner told CNN.

Hostage, 2 pirates killed in French rescue operation

A French hostage and two pirates died Friday in a rescue operation off Somalia, the French president’s office in Paris said Friday.

More pirates searching for lifeboat, official says

Pirates in ships are searching for the lifeboat containing four pirates and their hostage — the captain of a freighter they failed to hijack earlier this week — according to a U.S. military official with knowledge of the situation.

Ship’s captain prepared for pirate attack, ex-crew member says

A former crew member on the American ship attacked by pirates off Africa said the ship’s captain is exactly the kind of person who would offer himself in exchange for the crew’s safety.

Commentary: Take fight to the pirates

It is well past time to take a serious look at piracy off the coast of Africa.

Somali pirates take in millions from kidnappings

Somali pirates have turned high-seas kidnappings into a lucrative business, one that netted between $50 million and $150 million last year, a former Navy SEAL told CNN.

U.S. warship near boat carrying pirates

A U.S. warship arrived before dawn Thursday near a 28-foot lifeboat holding four pirates and the kidnapped captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, officials said.

U.S. crew member says one pirate ‘taken down’

A crew member aboard a freighter seized by pirates off east Africa said Wednesday that the crew had captured one of four pirates who hijacked their vessel, but they released him in a failed hostage trade.

African pirates copy ideas for ransom riches

Incident details: “Armed pirates chased, boarded and hijacked a fishing trawler underway” southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia. “Several persons armed with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machetes attempting to climb onboard with use of rope” at Lagos anchorage, Nigeria.

As piracy surges, U.S. warns of dangers off Somali coast

A sudden surge of pirate attacks off the coast of eastern Somalia in recent days has prompted the U.S. military to put out a new alert to mariners, warning of increased danger in the region.