Pirate attack on tanker prevented by Iranian navy

An attack on an unnamed Iranian-owned oil tanker by a flotilla of pirate boats was foiled by the Iranian navy early on  Saturday morning in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen and Djibouti.

Some 115 armed pirates onboard 12 pirate vessels were dispelled from the area by the Iranian Navy’s 41st fleet, which opened “heavy fire” on the boats, according to a statement quoted by the state-run Iranian news agency (IRNA).

Three hours later, the pirates reportedly tried to attack the tanker again, but were once more rebuffed by the navy fleet, which included the Destroyer vessel Martyred Admiral Naghd and the logistic warship Lavan.

The navy has escorted the unnamed oil tanker to a “secure region”, the statement said.

File photo.