Iran Navy foils pirate attacks on vessels in Gulf of Aden

A high-ranking Iranian Navy commander says the country’s naval forces have successfully saved two merchant vessels from pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of crisis-stricken Yemen.

The Iranian Navy’s Second-in-Command Rear Admiral Seyyed Mahmoud Mousavi said on Thursday that a cargo ship, whose nationality he did not mention, came under attack last night after a group of pirates on board six boats approached the vessel.

The Iranian Navy vessels patrolling the area rushed to assist the ship upon its distress call.

Iranian Navy marines managed to foil the pirate attack after engaging in a firefight, said the commander.

Mousavi added that pirates on board 12 ships launched another assault on a separate merchant vessel early on Thursday. Iranian forces once again fired shots and thwarted the pirate attack.

The senior Iranian Navy commander noted that pirates fled towards the coast of Somalia in both incidents.