EMEA News
Iranian Navy Prevents Pirate Attack on Oil Tanker
An attempted pirate attack on an Iranian tanker this week was thwarted after patrolling Iranian naval vessels came to the rescue, local media reports.
The attempt purportedly involved 32 armed assailants using four speedboats and a fishing barge.
Naval forces responded to a distress call sent from the tanker travelling through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and were reportedly able to fend off the attempt after a half-an-hour firefight that led to no reported injuries.
The suspects reportedly fled the scene after.
According to the Iranian Navy, anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb have been occurring since November 2008.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Asia piracy cases had hit a 10-year high, the majority of were related to bunker piracy.
