Overview
- Operation Atalanta’s Spanish frigate Victoria used a helicopter, a drone and a special operations team to secure the Hellas Aphrodite.
- All 24 crew members had sheltered in the ship’s citadel and were recovered unharmed after maintaining contact with the EU mission.
- The assailants fled and are being pursued as investigators examine reports that the Iranian fishing vessel Issamohahmdi served as a mothership.
- UKMTO reported a separate close approach by a small craft in the same area on Friday, reinforcing alerts about multiple attempts.
- The seizure and release followed a foiled attack on the Stolt Sagaland earlier in the week during a broader resurgence of Somali piracy.