US Navy Rescue 13 Iranians from Pirates

In this photo released by US Navy, a U.S. Navy SH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter provides support to a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team in a 7-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat, assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) in the Arabian Sea Jan. 5, 2012.

The VBSS team boarded the Iranian-flagged fishing boat dhow Al Molai after the dhow’s master claimed he was being held captive by pirates.

Kidd’s VBSS team detained 15 suspected pirates who were reportedly holding a 13-member Iranian crew hostage for the last two months. Kidd is conducting counter-piracy and maritime security operations while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. <Photo: Xinhua>

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