Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — In an unprecedented move, the European Union has directed
air strikes against Somalia.

The EU said a range of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft attacked the
Somali coast in search of pirates.

The EU said the May 15 operation, in which no casualties were reported, took place in the Somali region of Galmudug.

“This action against piracy is part of a comprehensive EU approach to
the crisis in Somalia, where we support a lasting political solution on
land,” Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said.

The EU has played a major role in fighting Somali piracy, deemed rampant in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. For more than three years, the EU deployed up to 10 warships off the Horn of Africa.

“At no point did EU Naval Force boots go ashore,” the EU, referring to
the attack, said.

This marked the first EU air strike against Somalia and took place four
days after Somali pirates hijacked a Greek-owned oil tanker near the coast
of Oman. In April 2012, Brussels, the leading donor to the transitional
government in Mogadishu, approved a proposal to strike piracy targets along
the Somali coast.

“This action by the EU Naval Force will further increase the pressure
on, and disrupt pirates’ efforts to get out to sea to attack merchant
shipping and dhows,” EU force commander Rear Adm. Duncan Potts said.

  10 warships off the Horn of Africa, EU launches air strikes against Somali pirates after hijacking of tanker, pirates hijacked Greek-owned oil tanker, Rear Adm. Duncan Potts, Somali region of Galmudug