On Wednesday morning, 5 pirate boats attacked a Chinese cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden but their attack was thwarted by Iranian Navy's 31st Flotilla.
5 pirate speed boats each containing 5 armed pirates equipped with various light and semi-heavy weapons launched an assault on the Chinese ship, but were soon driven away when the attacked ship sent out a distress signal and the Iranian Navy's 31st Flotilla rushed to the rescue .
The Chinese ship which was traveling from Singapore to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before it came under pirates' attack, continued its voyage after it was rescued by the Iranian Navy.
This was the second time Iranian Navy rescued a Chinese ship. The previous rescue attempt was made in April 2012 which was followed by official gratification from Chinese authorities.
On August 24, the 31st Fleet of the Iranian Navy, comprised of Bayandor destroyer and Bandar Abbas logistic warship, docked at Djibouti port with the message of peace and friendship after sailing 2,200 nautical miles in free waters. In the last month this fleet has managed to rescue 5 Iranian and foreign merchant ships and oil tankers.
The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, is a vital waterway for shipping, especially for Persian Gulf oil, making it an integral waterway in the world economy.
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