US Coast Guard Fires Warning Shots At Approaching Iranian Boats In Strait Of Hormuz
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Pentagon said its guard vessels thwarted a number of Iranian fast attack boats that were approaching guided missile submarine, the USS Georgia, in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Monday, 13 fast boats with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy dangerously approached U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels that were operating in the Strait of Hormuz. After those ships failed to heed warnings to move away to a safe distance, the U.S. fired warning shots, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said at a news conference.
Tuesday, 11 May, 2021 - 05:00
An earlier incident in which an Iranian navy ship crossed the bow of a US patrol boat in the Gulf on April 2, 2021 - AFP Asharq Al-Awsat
A US vessel fired warning shots at more than a dozen Iranian fast attack boats which buzzed close to a US Navy submarine and escort ships in the narrow Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the Pentagon said.
In the second such incident in two weeks, 13 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy boats approached the seven US vessels at high speeds, closing within 150 yards (140 meters) before one of the US vessels fired 30 shots in two volleys, until they moved away, said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
US ship fires 30 warning shots after Iranian vessels approach fleet
Coast guard vessel takes action after 13 Iranian fast boats come within 150 yards in strait of Hormuz
Iranian warships are seen during a joint naval exercise with Russian navy in the Indian Ocean in February. Photograph: Wana News Agency/Reuters
Iranian warships are seen during a joint naval exercise with Russian navy in the Indian Ocean in February. Photograph: Wana News Agency/Reuters
Staffandagencies
Mon 10 May 2021 15.07 EDT
First published on Mon 10 May 2021 14.55 EDT
A US coast guard ship fired about 30 warning shots as a group of 13 Iranian fast boats sped toward US navy vessels in the strait of Hormuz, in what the Pentagon called “unsafe and unprofessional” maneuvers by the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGCN).
US Navy
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) fast in-shore attack craft (FIAC), a type of speedboat armed with machine guns, conducted unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers and failed to exercise due regard for the safety of U.S. forces as required under international law while operating in close proximity to U.S. naval vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. 210510-N-N0146-1006 STRAIT OF HORMUZ (May 10, 2021) Two Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) fast in-shore attack craft (FIAC), a type of speedboat armed with machine guns, conducted unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers while operating in close proximity to U.S. naval vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, May 10, 2021. U.S. forces exercised lawful defensive measure after the IRGCN vessels ignored repeated verbal and acoustic warning and closed toward Maui at a high speed and close distance with weapons uncovered and manned. (U.S. Navy photo)
By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart
This is the second time within the last month that U.S. military vessels have had to fire warning shots because of what they said was unsafe behavior by Iranian vessels in the region, after a relative lull in such interactions over the past year.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the warning shots were fired after the Iranian fast boats came as close as 150 yards (450 feet) of six U.S. military vessels, including the USS Monterey, that were escorting the guided-missile submarine Georgia.
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Maui fired the warning shots from a .50-caliber machine gun before the Iranian vessels left, Kirby said.