US Naval Vessel Fires Warning Shots at Revolutionary Guard Boats in Persian Gulf
For the second time this month, it was reported that Revolutionary Guard boats approached US naval vessels in the Persian Gulf. In the latest incident that occurred on Monday, a US naval vessel was forced to fire warning shots.
The US Navy announced on Tuesday, April 27, that one of its patrol boats fired warning shots after Revolutionary Guard boats approached it.
According to the Associated Press, the US Navy released a black and white video of this encounter in international waters north of the Persian Gulf.
In the video, the sound of gunfire can be heard and lights are also visible near the vessel along with a tracer round above the water surface.
Iran has not yet reacted to this news.
The US Navy stated that Revolutionary Guard boats approached two American “Cyclone”-class patrol boats named “Firebolt” and “Baranof” in the Persian Gulf on Monday, April 26 (Ordibehesht 6).
The two vessels initially warned the Iranian boats through loudspeaker and radio, but after three warnings and when these boats approached to within 62 meters, the Firebolt vessel fired warning shots.
Rebecca Rebarich, spokesperson for the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in the Middle East, stated that after several warnings through loudspeaker and radio, the crew of the Firebolt fired warning shots, and afterward the Revolutionary Guard boats withdrew to a “safe distance.”
She called on the Revolutionary Guard to conduct itself with consideration for the security of all vessels and in accordance with international law.
Rebecca Rebarich emphasized that “the US Navy remains vigilant. Our personnel are trained for professional conduct, and at the same time our commanders reserve the right to self-defense.”
The US Navy stated that this action could have increased “the risk of a miscalculation or confrontation.”
This is the second reported encounter between Iranian and American vessels in the Persian Gulf this month. On Tuesday, the US Navy released a video of Revolutionary Guard boats approaching two American vessels, the Wrangell and Monomoy, on April 2.
Source: DW
