The French navy has stormed a sailboat held by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, off the Somali coast, killing two pirates and one hostage.

The French freed four of the hostages, including a child, from the boat Tanit, seized last week. Three pirates have been taken into custody. The raid comes as the US Captain held on a lifeboat since Wednesday made an unsuccessful bid to escape. Richard Phillips managed to jump overboard off the lifeboat, but was soon hauled back by his captors. They launched an attack to take Phillips’ ship the Alabama on Wednesday , but were foiled by the 20 man American crew. A number of foreign ships are monitoring Captain Phillips’ plight including the destroyer USS Bainbridge, which is on the scene. Phillips is one of 270 hostages being held by pirates who stalk the busy shipping lanes in the area.More about: Somalia

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