Navy Repels Pirate Attack

Naval forces thwarted a pirate attack on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden. Iran's 48th naval flotilla, comprising Alvand destroyer and Lavan logistic warship, rescued the Iranian ship from an attack by pirates to the south of Ras Sharbitat region near Oman on Sunday morning, Press TV reported. Gulf of Aden pirates attacked the Iranian merchant ship, named Caspian Harmony, to hijack it, but they were forced to flee after a heavy exchange of fire by the Iranian forces. The flotilla set off for high seas on Sept. 2 on a mission to safeguard maritime routes. Speaking to Muscat Daily, Glen Forbes, a former Royal Navy officer and founder of OCEANLive, said, “There has been a resurgence of pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden and northwest Indian Ocean Region". As a result, Iran's Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.