Turkish commandos capture 7 pirates in a skiff off Somalia

Turkish military captures 7 pirates

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s military says navy commandos aboard a frigate have captured seven pirates in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia’s coast.

The military says the commandos aboard the TCG Gediz raided the skiff early Saturday following a request to block it before it could attack two ships bearing the flag of Panama.

A statement on the military’s Web site says a navy helicopter aboard the frigate also took part in the operation.

The Turkish frigate is in the area as part of a NATO force patrolling the seas.

Turkish navy commandoscaptured pirates in similar operations in the Gulf of Aden in July.