Three Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (an elite unit of the Iranian Armed Forces) gunboats got within 46 meters of USS Sirocco and USNS Choctaw County naval ships on Monday. This was reported by The Washington Post, citing its sources in the Pentagon.
According to its sources, the Iranian boats dashed at "dangerously high" speed past the patrol ship Sirocco and the fast transport ship Choctaw County. According to its sources, the ships were in international waters in the Persian Gulf when the three Iranian boats approached the Sirocco at close range. They only veered off course when Sirocco sounded a warning signal. The Iranian boats also came within 46 meters of Choctaw County, forcing the Sirocco crew to use a signal fire. The incident lasted about an hour.
Colonel Joseph Buccino, a spokesman for US Central Command (CENTCOM), whose area of operational responsibility includes the Middle East, South and Central Asia, among others, said the actions of the Iranian troops "did not meet international standards for professional and safe conduct at sea, increasing the risk of miscalculation and collisions." "CENTCOM forces will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere in their area of responsibility where international law allows, while contributing to regional stability," he concluded.
Last year, three Iranian boats similarly came within 62 meters of two US ships patrolling international waters in the Persian Gulf, causing the US military to fire several warning shots.Media: Iranian boats approached US ships in Persian Gulf
Three Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (an elite unit of the Iranian Armed Forces) gunboats got within 46 meters of USS Sirocco and USNS Choctaw County naval ships on Monday. This was reported by The Washington Post, citing its sources in the Pentagon.
According to its sources, the Iranian boats dashed at "dangerously high" speed past the patrol ship Sirocco and the fast transport ship Choctaw County. According to its sources, the ships were in international waters in the Persian Gulf when the three Iranian boats approached the Sirocco at close range. They only veered off course when Sirocco sounded a warning signal. The Iranian boats also came within 46 meters of Choctaw County, forcing the Sirocco crew to use a signal fire. The incident lasted about an hour.
Colonel Joseph Buccino, a spokesman for US Central Command (CENTCOM), whose area of operational responsibility includes the Middle East, South and Central Asia, among others, said the actions of the Iranian troops "did not meet international standards for professional and safe conduct at sea, increasing the risk of miscalculation and collisions." "CENTCOM forces will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere in their area of responsibility where international law allows, while contributing to regional stability," he concluded.
Last year, three Iranian boats similarly came within 62 meters of two US ships patrolling international waters in the Persian Gulf, causing the US military to fire several warning shots.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: tasnimnews.com
Based on materials from TASS