Iran Navy foils pirate attacks on freighter in Red Sea

 

Iran's Navy warships have foiled a pirate attack on an Iranian cargo vessel in the Red Sea off the coast of war-ravaged Somalia, Press TV reports.

Iranian Navy's Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi said the Iranian freighter came under attack on Monday after several armed people on board four skiffs approached the ship. 

The Iranian warships patrolling the area rushed to assist the cargo vessel upon its distress call, which reported an unauthorized boarding attempt by a number of people. 

Iranian Navy marines managed to foil the pirate attack on the vessel after getting engaged in a fire fight. No injuries were reported among the crews of the Iranian ships. 

Pirates had earlier launched three separate attacks on an Iranian-owned oil tanker close to the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia in the Horn of Africa.