In the deadliest confrontation yet between the US Navy and Somali pirates, four American hostages were killed by their captors overnight.
The US Navy was taken by surprise by the violence on board the hijacked yacht S/V Quest, which occurred while negotiations were underway.
The yacht was being shadowed by four US warships, as Washington correspondend Craig McMurtrie reports.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: Californians Scott and Jean Adam were experienced sailors and devout Christians who often distributed bibles at their ports of call.
Seattle couple Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle were passengers on board the 18-metre yacht when it was seized by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman.
Four US warships including the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise had been shadowing the seized yacht.
Two Somali pirates were on board one of the warships negotiating when others opened fire.
US Vice Admiral Mark Fox.
MARK FOX: A rocket-propelled grenade was fired from the Quest by the pirates towards the Sterritt. The Sterritt was approximately 600 yards away from the Quest.
Immediately thereafter, gunfire also erupted inside the cabin of the Quest.
Several pirates appeared on deck and moved up to the bow with their hands in the air in surrender.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: Admiral Fox is based in Bahrain and briefed US reporters at the Pentagon.
He says special operations forces in small boats boarded the Quest but it was too late.
MARK FOX: When our team got on board the yacht there were hostages who were still alive and we applied and gave first aid immediately to them. But they were fatally injured.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: All four Americans had been shot.
Two pirates were also found dead on board, and there was further violence as US forces attempted to remove everyone from the yacht.
MARK FOX: And then as they were clearing the vessel they did kill one pirate as they were clearing it and then there was another pirate that was killed in a knife fight.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: Admiral Fox says 15 pirates are now in custody.
He can't explain why they suddenly turned on the hostages but is adamant that the Americans were killed by their captors and not accidentally shot as US forces stormed the Quest.
In Washington, Hillary Clinton strongly condemned the violence and called for the international community to come together to combat piracy.
HILLARY CLINTON: We've got to have a more effective approach to maintaining security on the seas in the ocean lanes that are so essential to commerce and travel.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: According to the US Navy there are currently dozens of cargo ships and other boats captured by pirates off Somalia with hundreds of people being held for ransom.
The US Navy has denied claims that it fired on the pirates first, promising a full investigation.
The US Navy was taken by surprise by the violence on board the hijacked yacht S/V Quest, which occurred while negotiations were underway.
The yacht was being shadowed by four US warships, as Washington correspondend Craig McMurtrie reports.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: Californians Scott and Jean Adam were experienced sailors and devout Christians who often distributed bibles at their ports of call.
Seattle couple Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle were passengers on board the 18-metre yacht when it was seized by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman.
Four US warships including the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise had been shadowing the seized yacht.
Two Somali pirates were on board one of the warships negotiating when others opened fire.
US Vice Admiral Mark Fox.
MARK FOX: A rocket-propelled grenade was fired from the Quest by the pirates towards the Sterritt. The Sterritt was approximately 600 yards away from the Quest.
Immediately thereafter, gunfire also erupted inside the cabin of the Quest.
Several pirates appeared on deck and moved up to the bow with their hands in the air in surrender.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: Admiral Fox is based in Bahrain and briefed US reporters at the Pentagon.
He says special operations forces in small boats boarded the Quest but it was too late.
MARK FOX: When our team got on board the yacht there were hostages who were still alive and we applied and gave first aid immediately to them. But they were fatally injured.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: All four Americans had been shot.
Two pirates were also found dead on board, and there was further violence as US forces attempted to remove everyone from the yacht.
MARK FOX: And then as they were clearing the vessel they did kill one pirate as they were clearing it and then there was another pirate that was killed in a knife fight.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: Admiral Fox says 15 pirates are now in custody.
He can't explain why they suddenly turned on the hostages but is adamant that the Americans were killed by their captors and not accidentally shot as US forces stormed the Quest.
In Washington, Hillary Clinton strongly condemned the violence and called for the international community to come together to combat piracy.
HILLARY CLINTON: We've got to have a more effective approach to maintaining security on the seas in the ocean lanes that are so essential to commerce and travel.
CRAIG MCMURTRIE: According to the US Navy there are currently dozens of cargo ships and other boats captured by pirates off Somalia with hundreds of people being held for ransom.
The US Navy has denied claims that it fired on the pirates first, promising a full investigation.
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