Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 5
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran's 32nd naval fleet has once again repelled a pirate attack against on an Iranian oil tanker near the Gulf of Aden, the Islamic Republic's IRIB news agency reported Jan. 5.
A group of pirates on speedboats approached an Iranian tanker near the Yemen's Al-Mukalla port, but forced to escape under the heavy fire of the 32nd naval fleet before launching the attack, public relations department of Iran's Navy said.
The fleet earlier foiled a pirate attack against an Iranian oil tank on Dec. 29 that was carried out by eight pirate boats in Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
The Islamic Republic's 32nd fleet including the Jamaran destroyer and Bushehr helicopter-carrier warship was dispatched to the Gulf of Aden early in November 2014 to protect the country's commercial ships and oil tanks against pirates.
In recent years, Iran's Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and 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
The commander of Iran's Navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said in November 2014 that the country's naval forces had successfully foiled more than 150 pirate attacks on Iranian merchant vessels and oil tankers and escorted 2,000 commercial ships in the past few years.
Edited by CN
Follow the author on Twitter: @UmidNiayesh