CBNNews.com - WASHINGTON - In a  swift firefight on Sunday, U.S. Navy sailors rescued the American sea captain who had been held hostage by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

A senior U.S. intelligence official said Capt. Richard Phillips was not injured in the firefight and was safely transported to a nearby Navy warship, according to The Associated Press .

Three pirates were killed and a fourth injured in the rescue.

The official, who was unauthorized to disucss details of the rescue publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Source: The Associated Press