Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 8
By Temkin Jafarov, Saeed Isayev - Trend:
The 28th naval fleet of Iran saved country's oil tanker earlier this morning, after it nearly got attacked by pirate boats, IRIB News reported.
The incident took place in the Gulf of Aden, when the pirates tried to takeover the tanker. The escort group of Iran's 28th naval fleet was near, and opened fire at the pirates, which retreated shortly after.
Commander of the Iranian Navy for Operations Admiral Siyavush Jarreh said that Iran's 28th fleet defended the oil tanker from 12 pirate boats.
The commander said ethe pirates had to flee after Iranian naval forces took swift action to repel their attack.
In October 2013, Iran's naval forces rescued country's merchant ship in Aden, which was attacked by 5 speedboats with armed pirates on board.
In September of 2013, Commander of the Iranian Army's 4th Naval Zone Admiral Khordad Hakimi said that Iran's Navy has escorted over 1,500 ships in the Gulf of Aden.
The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.