NYT: U.S. Military Rescues Iranians Captured by Pirates
The United States Navy rescued 13 Iranians whose fishing vessel had been seized by pirates more than a month ago in the North Arabian Sea, the Pentagon announced on Friday.
In a conference call with reporters, Rear Adm. Craig S. Faller, the commander of an American carrier strike group patrolling the area, explained that the 15 Somali pirates had surrendered to a boarding party from the U.S.S. Kidd, a destroyer that intercepted the Iranian-flagged Al Molai on Thursday after receiving a distress call. On Friday morning, the pirates were transferred to a a detention facility aboard the U.S.S. John C. Stennis, an aircraft carrier.
Cmdr. Jennifer L. Ellinger, the commanding officer of the Kidd, said that the Iranians “were extremely grateful” to the sailors who rescued them. After the pirates were removed, the crew of the fishing vessel was provided with food and left for home on Friday, wearing U.S.S. Kidd baseball caps.
It was the second time in a week that the carrier, which left the Persian Gulf for the North Arabian Sea late last month, found itself at the center of the news during a tense and very public standoff with Iran. On Tuesday the Iranian military warned that it would take unspecified action if the aircraft carrier returned to the gulf.
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