Iranian naval forces foiled a pirate attack on an Iranian oil tanker in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, a Navy official said on Friday.
The pirates in 11 speedboats launched an attack on the tanker with 150 tonnes of cargo early Thursday but were repelled by the commandos of the Navy’s 60th flotilla of warships on patrol in the Gulf of Aden, the official added.
The country’s navy has extended its reach in recent years, dispatching vessels to the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian ships from Somali pirates.
The 60th flotilla, comprising Bayandor destroyer, Bushehr logistical warship and Lavan battleship began its mission in international waters on January 23.