Crews of cargo ships are increasingly using the tactic of sequestering themselves in safe rooms to prevent pirates from gaining control over the ship or taking hostages.
U.S. Marines boarded and seized a cargo ship held by pirates off the coast of Somalia, the first known U.S. attempt of such an operation in the region.
The May 30 arrest of a Somali man flying to Mexico raises the question of whether the Somali jihadist group al Shabaab has decided to target the United States.
A spokesman for Somali Islamist militia Hizbul Islam said the group intends to wipe out Somali piracy -- an impossible task for any one group to accomplish. (With STRATFOR map)
Anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia are turning to offensive tactics -- targeting pirates' "mother ships" -- instead of remaining on the defensive.
China has suggested it might send naval forces to intercept a bulk carrier hijacked by Somali pirates, who are threatening to kill the ship's 25 crew members.
