Off the Coast of Yemen

German-Foreign-Policy.com
Newsletter 2009/09/09 - Off the Coast of Yemen (Bundeswehr made its first victim at the Horn of Africa)

Date: Fri 09/11/2009 03:49 AM

Newsletter 2009/09/09 - Off the Coast of Yemen

SANAA/BERLIN (Own report) - The German Bundeswehr made its first victim at the Horn of Africa, in the aftermath of the massacre near Kunduz, Afghanistan. When German soldiers opened fire on a fleeing boat, a passenger was mortally wounded. The Bundeswehr had suspected the victim of intending to commit piracy and killed him in the vicinity of the Yemeni port city of Al Mukalla. Over the years, as German naval vessels have been patrolling off the Yemeni coast, a civil war has been escalating in that country, placing even German interests in jeopardy. It is reported that the insurgents are being supported by Iran and are strengthening Iran's influence, and that Islamic terrorists are profiting from the weak central government, using Yemen as a staging area and a base of retreat for their activities on the Arabian Peninsular. Berlin is not only using so-called development aid projects to combat Islamist forces, it is also supporting the Yemeni police. In addition, the Bundeswehr is maintaining a "group of advisors" in the country and for years has been seeking to initiate cooperation between the naval forces of both countries.

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