Pirates seize ship and use it for further attacks; Libyan ship hijacked

Somali pirates hijacked a ship off the East African coast on Wednesday and are using it as a mother ship from which to attack other vessels.

The European Union’s Navfor anti-piracy task force said yesterday that between 30 and 50 pirates had captured the Indonesian flagged MV Sinar Kudus in the Arabian Sea and then used it to try and hijack the Liberian flagged cargo vessel Emperor nearby. However, private security on board the ship repelled the attack after an exchange of fire.

Iranian warships delivered arms for Hezbollah to Syrian port

Two Iranian warships passed through the Suez Canal on Feb 22, easily entered the Mediterranean Sea, and anchored at Syrian port Latakia, reports Iranian agency IRNA. The ships delivered "most advanced arms" for Hezbollah, reports Kuwaiti news agency KUNA referring to Israeli newspaper Maariv. 

In particular, undisclosed sources reported that the ships had carried various missiles, rifles, ammunition, and night vision devices. 

With its theatrical cruise via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, Iran tries to evade arms embargo laid on Hezbollah. 

Iranian navy ships enter Suez Canal

Two Iranian naval ships entered the Suez Canal on Tuesday, a canal source said, en route to Syria on a purported training mission that Israel regards as a provocation.

"The two ships entered the Canal on Tuesday at around 5:45 am (0335 GMT), the official said. A normal journey through the stretch takes between 12 and 14 hours.

The patrol frigate Alvand and support ship Kharg were the first Iranian warships through Suez since the 1979 Islamic revolution, and are reportedly bound for Syria, a destination that necessarily involves passing Israel.

Passage of Iranian warships through Suez Canal postponed to Wednesday

Passage of two Iranian ships through the Suez Canal was postponed for 48 hours, reports Reuters referring to the canal administration. 

Iranian frigate and supply vessel were supposed to pass the canal at 6 am on Monday. 

Iranian governmental TV channel Al-Alam reported on Sunday that the ships had passed the Suez Canal and were moving towards Syrian port, although the canal administration refuted this information.