The 4 hostages of the SV Quest are dead: in the assault?

It is the central command of the US armies that teaches us. The 4 hostages who were on board the yacht SV Quest are dead, "killed by their captors". According to the official version, given by the US command, it was around 1 am EST (11 am local time) when the event occurred. The negotiations "were underway to obtain the release of the four hostages. US forces have (then) responded to gunfire from the hijacked ship. They reached the SV Quest, got on board, and discovered the four hostages (who) had been killed by their captors. Despite immediate treatment, the four hostages ultimately succumbed to their injuries.

There were, according to the first information, 19 pirates on board. "During the assault, two pirates were killed". And the lifeless bodies of two (other) pirates were found on board. The 13 surviving pirates were captured thus joining the two others already captured by the pirates. 15 are therefore in the hands of the Americans who could pass them on to the American justice.

The naval forces followed the S.V. Quest for about 3 days after its capture. No less than 4 ships had been assigned to this task: the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Bulkeley (DDG 84).

An official version to be taken conditionally

Comments : There is no a priori reason to doubt this version of the facts presented by the American High Command. But there is no reason to believe it completely either. Especially since the given version includes many 'black holes'. First of all, there were exchanges of fire before the assault: 2 pirates found dead on board and 2 others captured. Then there was a collision (preceded and followed by another exchange of fire). Finally, the hostages still alive when the Marines arrive quickly die. But the US forces immediately tell us, and without hesitation, that they were killed by the pirates. Unless they were executed under the eyes of the military (or before their arrival), we could be more cautious and wait for the investigation of the (American) justice which will not fail to follow to enlighten us.

A caution which is also explained by the antecedents. There is an unfortunate precedent: the British hostage in Afghanistan "executed by his captors" who was later discovered to have been killed by an American grenade, dropped by one of his liberators. It cannot therefore be totally excluded, at this time, that one or more hostages were killed by friendly fire. Caution aside, we must not forget one fact: the cause of this death was the taking of hostages by the pirates. On the balance sheet 4 Americans killed, 4 Somalis killed. Piracy is beginning to be anything but a "gentlemen's war".

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