The Iranian destroyer ‘Sabalan’ from the Navy’s 37th fleet thwarted a pirate attack on an Iranian oil tanker in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Iranian tanker came under attack from six pirate boats, and soon after dispatching a distress call, the Iranian Navy’s 37th fleet sent Sabalan Destroyer to the scene of the attack. Sabalan opened heavy fire on the pirate boats and forced them to flee.
The 37th fleet, comprising of Sabalan destroyer and Tonb combat support ship commenced its mission in international waters on December 1 in a bid to protect cargo ships and oil tankers.
In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been also conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.
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