Navy Foils Pirate Attack on Iranian Vessel
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Servicemen on board the Iran Navy's 30th fleet of warships on Monday thwarted a pirate attack on an Iranian-flagged ship around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a senior navy commander said.
The pirates, sailing speedboats equipped with light and semi-heavy assault weapons, planned to hijack an Iranian vessel near the Bab el-Mandeb strait this morning, but they were confronted with the Navy’s 30th fleet of warships, Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told reporters on Monday.
"The assailants were forced to leave following exchange of fire," the commander noted.
The 30th fleet of warships, comprised of “Alvand” destroyer and “Bushehr” logistic warship, was deployed to the international waters in April.
The fleet is planned to sail across the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean as part of missions to protect the Iranian vessels against pirate attacks in various shipping routes.
In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence in the international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and oil tankers.
In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.