Iran sends warships to Sudan following alleged Israeli airstrike

GlobalPost

Two naval warships from Iran have docked along the coast of Sudan, state media reported.

The arrival of the vessels on Monday comes less than a week after an arms factory in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, was destroyed in an explosion, CNN reported.

Sudan has complained to the UN that Israel bombed the factory. Israel has not confirmed or denied responsibility for the attack.

The ships which are docked in Port Sudan will stay until Wednesday, according to SUNA, the official Sudanese news agency.

The Iranian navy was quoted saying the arrival was aimed at "conveying the message of peace and friendship to the neighbouring countries and ensuring security for seafaring and shipping lanes against marine terrorism and piracy."

The presence "clearly shows the solid support of political and diplomatic relationships between the Sudanese and Iranian navies," Sudanese army spokesman Savarmi Khaled Saad said.

BBC News reported the warships include a corvette and a freighter. 

They reportedly left Iran last month, according to Iran's official Irna news agency.

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