Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Somali pirates release Greek oil tanker with 26 crew

English: Map showing the extent of Somali pira...
English: Map showing the extent of Somali pirate attacks on shipping vessels between 2005 and 2010. Français : Carte montrant l'étendue des attaques de pirates somaliens sur des navires de transport entre 2005 et 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
NAIROBI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates have freed Greek oil tanker with 26 crew members onboard after ten months of captivity, the vessel's owners confirmed on Tuesday.

Dynacom Tankers Management said in a statement that the vessel, MT. Smyrni which was hijacked in Arabian Sea in May 2012 off 56 the Gulf Arab state of Oman was released on Monday.

"We are very pleased to report that the MT Smyrni has been released after ten months in the captivity of Somali pirates. All of the crew are safe and well and the vessel is proceeding to a port of refuge," the company said in a statement to Xinhua on Tuesday.

The Liberian-based flagged Smyrni, operated by a Greek company, was carrying 135,000 tonnes of oil and said to have been taken to Somalia.

The vessel has a crew of 26 of mixed nationalities who were all taken hostage in the attack and sources said there was no security guards aboard the tanker when it was attacked by pirates.

The seizure of Smyrni took place on its second voyage and marked the first successful hijacking of an oil tanker off the Omani coast since February 2011.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the crew, their families, our employees and those agencies that have provided support through this long ordeal. We do not expect to make any further statements on this matter," Dynacom Tankers Management said.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden reduced drastically in 2012 as only 75 incidents including 14 hijackings were attributed to Somali pirates who continue to threaten an extended geographical region, according to a global maritime watchdog.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said in a global piracy report that only five attacks were reported in the last quarter of 2012, adding that the number of Somali hijackings was halved from 28 in 2011 to 14 last year.

The maritime watchdog said the drop is likely due to the increased active military action on suspected skiffs, military land based anti-piracy operations, preventive measures and increased use of armed guards on board ships as well as the monsoon season.

According to the report, only two crew have been killed, 250 taken hostage and one injured. The East and South Coast of Somalia including the Arabian Sea recorded 49 attacks including nine attacks in the Gulf of Oman region, with 13 attacks having been reported in the Gulf of Aden and the Southern Red Sea.

Most of the attacks involve the use of weapons which is a cause of great concern to the merchant navy fleet as it poses a serious threat not only to injury and death of seafarers but also to the ship, cargo and environment.

from XINHUA
Editor: Hou Qiang
2013-03-12 17:31:44

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R.I.P. - Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the death two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died March 11, in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when they were attacked by small arms fire.  Killed were:

            Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, 28, of South Miami, Fla.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

            Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla.  He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information on Capt. Pedersen-Keel, media may contact the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) public affairs office at 910- 689-6187.

            For more information on Staff Sgt. Schad, media may contact the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield public affairs office at 912- 210-9375.

---
from WOTC:

SSgt. Rex Schad
HINESVILLE, GA (WTOC) - A Fort Stewart soldier was one of two killed March 11 in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday.

Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla. and Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, 28, of South Miami, Fla. died in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, of injuries they suffered when they were attacked by small arms fire.

Schad was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. Pedersen-Keel was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

On Wednesday, Schad's family talked about the moment his mother found out about his death.

"She had the trunk opened on her car when they walked up and she fell over on the ground," said Harold Whipple, Schad's grandfather.

Wednesday at 11 a.m., Maj. Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams, the commanding Regional Command South in Afghanistan, will be briefing the media on the current operations in Afghanistan.


---

from ctpost:

Capt. Andrew Pedersen-Keel
A soldier from Madison has been killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.

Army Captain Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel, 28, was killed in Afghanistan on Monday. Governor Dannel P. Malloy today ordered U.S. and Connecticut flags to fly at half-staff to honor Pedersen-Keel.

"Captain Pedersen-Keel made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our state and our nation," Malloy said. "Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and his unit during this very difficult time. We pray for a safe homecoming for our troops who are stationed around the world, and thank them for their bravery and service."

"This is a tragic and sad reminder that even as the conflict in Afghanistan is winding down there are still hundreds of Connecticut soldiers in harm's way," said Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. "Captain Pedersen-Keel and every one of the other 63 brave men and women from our state lost in Afghanistan and Iraq died defending us and our freedom, and that sacrifice must never be forgotten."

Capt. Pedersen-Keel, 28, was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was killed by a member of the Afghan National Police while conducting a patrol brief in the Jalrez District.

Flags will remain at half-staff until burial or memorial, Malloy's spokeswoman said.

Pedersen-Keel's parents got the news when military officials visited their Madison home on Monday.

"It is with deep regret and great sadness that we found out about Captain Andrew Pedersen-Keel, that he died in Afghanistan. ...it's very sad when something like this happens, especially sad when you have a local connection," said First Selectman Fillmore McPherson.

It is believed Pedersen-Keel was one of two American soldiers killed in a so-called insider attack. There are reports a person dressed as an Afghan Police Officer shot at U.S. and Afghan forces.

U.S. officials said have said two special forces soldiers were killed Monday when a policeman fired at people leaving a meeting at district police headquarters in Wardak province. The Pentagon has not released their names.

"It's always a tragedy when anyone dies. I think the expression is, `all gave some and some gave all,' and he certainly did. Very sad day," said Patrick Edenbun.

Pedersen-Keel graduated from Avon Old Farms School in 2002 and from the prestigious U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2006. His parents moved to Madison a few years ago, WTNH reported.

On Tuesday, flags flew at half staff in Madison and nearby Guilford, where Pedersen-Keel's parents attend St. George's church. McPherson said the town of Madison "stands ready" to offer what honors or special services the family desires.


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Mar. 13., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani facilitator and one other insurgent during operations in Tanai district, Khost province, today.

The insurgent is suspected to be responsible for multiple attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. He is also believed to be involved in procurement and distribution of improvised explosive devices and other weapons to militant fighters throughout Khost and Paktiya provinces.

The security force also seized seven AK-47s, four AK-47 magazines, 2 handguns, 75 rounds of ammunition and IED-making material as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan commander during an operation in Kunduz district, Kunduz province, today. The insurgent is suspected to be responsible for directing subordinate fighters in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is believed to be a known improvised explosive device expert, and to have passed his knowledge of IEDs on to other members of an extremist cell.

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested three insurgents during an operation in search of a Taliban commander in Marjeh district, Helmand province, today. The Taliban commander is suspected of holding senior administrative responsibilities for the insurgent network in Marjeh, and to have been deeply involved in planning, coordinating and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is also thought to have significant knowledge regarding the composition of the insurgency in the local area. The security force also seized two machine guns and 400 rounds of ammunition as a result of the operation.

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Mar. 13., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspected insurgent and found and safely cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, March 12.

Ghazni province
Coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs during operations in the Ghazni district.

Afghan National Police found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Ghazni district.

Kunar province
Afghan Local Police found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Narang district.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Sabari district.

Logar province
Afghan Local Police found and safely cleared an IED during operations in the Pul-E Alam district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspected insurgent during operations in the Khugyani district. The suspected insurgent was taken to a base for questioning.

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