EU naval¹ forces have conducted their first raid on pirate bases on the Somali mainland, saying they have destroyed several boats.

欧盟海军对位于索马里大陆的海盗基地进行了首轮突袭，称此次突袭击毁了几艘船只。

The EU forces were transported by helicopter to the bases near the port of Haradhere, a well known pirate lair²（巢穴） .

Anti-piracy³ forces have been reluctant to attack mainland bases, fearing for the crew of captured ships.

Somalia-based pirates have seized vessels⁴ across the Indian Ocean and demand huge ransoms⁵ for their release.

They are believed to be holding about 17 ships and 300 crew.

The latest incident involves the Greek-owned oil tanker⁶ Smyrni which was hijacked⁷ in the Arabian Sea last week.

The Liberian-flagged tanker carrying 135,000 tonnes of oil is reported to be heading for Somalia.

'Nothing spared'

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the attack on the land base is a significant development in the fight against Somali piracy.

The EU recently agreed to expand Operation Atalanta to allow forces to attack land targets as well as those at sea, and this is the first time its forces have used the new rules to attack a base on the mainland.

The attack was carried out overnight and, according to the European forces, no Somalis were hurt during the action.

The multinational⁸ forces used helicopters in conjunction with two warships⁹ to leave five of the pirates' fast attack craft "inoperable".

The European naval mission issued a statement saying: "The focused, precise and proportionate action was conducted from the air and all forces returned safely to EU warships on completion".