European countries have secured permission to launch military attacks on Somalia land aimed at dismantling pirate’s bases including other targets at sea.
In a two-year extension of its mission, EU defence ministers agreed warships could target boats and fuel dumps. The extension means EU warships will stay until at least December 2014.
Currently there are up to 10 EU naval ships actively patrol the Horn of Africa. They have policed shipping routes and protected humanitarian aid since 2008.
An EU official said the new mandate would allow warships or helicopters to fire at fuel barrels, boats, trucks or other equipment on beaches.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo told reporters, “The EU plan is to allow attacks on land installations when ships are assaulted at sea,” adding that “much care” would be taken to avoid civilian deaths.
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