Iran’s Navy Rescues Yemeni Boat Stranded in Red Sea
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Navy's 27th fleet of warships rescued the crew of a Yemeni boat that had been stranded at the Red Sea for three days, a senior navy commander said.
According to Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, a senior commander of the Iranian Navy, the distressed vessel with 10 Yemeni nationals aboard was spotted Wednesday morning, October 23, by the 27th fleet’s servicemen in the Red Sea.
The Yemeni sailors were nearly out of food and water when Iranian naval forces found them.
The vessel had suffered failed engine, making it adrift for 3 days, with its crew in dire need of food and medical aid, Rear Admiral Irani noted.
In a similar operation in late September, the Iranian Navy's 27th fleet of warships rescued two Yemeni fishing boats in the same location.
Servicemen on board Iran’s 27th fleet had saved the wandering boats and supplied the fishermen with foods after pirates had stolen the two vessels’ cargos, deactivated the engines and left the Yemeni fishermen alone in the sea.
The Iranian Navy's 27th fleet of warships docked in Port Sudan on September 18 as part of its mission to convey Iran's message of peace and friendship to the regional countries.
The fleet of warships is comprised of Kharg warship and Sabalan destroyer. Kharg has 250 crewmembers and can carry three helicopters.
Since November 2008, the Iranian navy has conducted anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mendeb strait to protect the country's cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.
Under the terms of several UN Security Council resolutions, nations can deploy warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia to protect their merchantmen against the pirates and, after giving notice to Somali government, enter Somali territorial in pursuit of pirates.
