Somalia

Warships from a NATO task force headed through the Suez Canal on Oct. 15 to help fight piracy and escort UN humanitarian aid ships off the coast of Somalia, a spokesman for the alliance said. Somali pirates have been causing havoc in one of the world’s busiest shipping areas, connecting Europe to Asia and the Middle East, taking millions in ransoms, hiking insurance costs, and threatening humanitarian supplies. Responding to a UN request, NATO allies authorized ships from the force of two destroyers, four frigates and one auxiliary ship from six NATO states to take part in the operations at a meeting last week. (Reuters)