Breaking News: US Navy Rescues An Iranian Fishing Boat From Bunch of Pirates

BUSINESS INSIDER – While the world listened to Iran and the U.S. go back and forth last week about the Strait of Hormuz, and the impending sanctions;the U.S. Navy was busy rescuing 13 Iranian fisherman from a pirate assault.

the highjacked fishing vessel

The U.S. Navy reports the rescue started with a distress call received by the USS John C. Stennis, the same carrier Iran claims to have spotted with a spy plane and insisted leave the Gulf.

The Stennis radioed the destroyer USS Kidd, sending it to the Iranian fishing vessel al-Molai, that pirates had hijacked over a month ago and were using as a "mothership."

The U.S. Navy public affairs office released a statement saying the Naval boarding party from the Kidd took the ship with no resistance, freed 13 Iranian hostages and arrested 15 pirates of undisclosed nationalities who are now in the brigg aboard the Stennis.

The captain of the al-Molai expressed his gratitude to U.S. forces saying if not for them he may have been stuck hostage with his crew for months.

The al-Molai was seized by the pirates more than 40 days ago where the crew was held hostage, given limited food, and likely forced to assist the pirates with their illegal operations. All this while Iran's 10-day naval exercises were underway, during which time Tehran claimed to have complete control of the Gulf of Oman and the Strait under close surveillance.

Though Tehran claimed to be able to see every vessel in the Strait, they apparently missed the fishing boat, hostages, and their flurry of activity.

No statement or thank you has yet been issued from Iran.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/that-aircraft-carrier-iran-banned-from-the-gulf-saved-13-iranians-from-pirates-2012-1#ixzz1ikqHke3C