U.S. Navy Warship Rescues Iranian Fishing Boat Crew Held By Pirates

NORTHERN ARABIAN SEA - JANUARY 5: In this handout provided by the U.S. Navy, the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) responds to a distress call from the Iranian fishing vessel Al Molai off the coast of Somalia approximately 400 nautical miles north of the Republic of Seychelles January 5, 2012 in the Arabian Sea. Tha Al Molai and its 13-member crew, which had been held captive for more than 40 days, was boarded and seized by U.S. forces January 5, with 15 suspected pirates detained, according to the Navy. The rescue comes amid escalating tensions over an Iranian threat to close the Straight of Hormuz in response to sanctions over Iran's nuclear enrichment program. Kidd is conducting counter-piracy and maritime security operations while deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo by U.S. Navy via Getty Images )