U.S. Boats Take Defensive Action Against Iranian Speedboats in Strait of Hormuz
Fox NewsMonday January 7, 2007
The United States warned Iran on Monday to refrain from any further provocations following a weekend standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, off Iran's coast, that ended after U.S. ships armed their weapons in preparation to defend against threatening Iranian boats.
"We urge the Iranians to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Monday.
Pentagon sources say what was believed to be five Iranian Revolutionary Guard speed boats — described as "cigarette" boats — charged at the three U.S. Navy ships sailing in the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday en route to the Persian Gulf, FOX News confirmed.
The Iranian boats came within 200 yards of the U.S. ships — a cruiser, a frigate and a destroyer that U.S. officials said were on a routine transport mission.
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The U.S. ships were forced to take defensive action to avoid striking the close-by Iranian boats and armed their weapons, but neither side fired any shots.
The small Iranian boats also reportedly threw boxes into the water ahead of the U.S. boats before speeding off. It could not immediately be determined what was in the boxes.
The boats were not marked, and not believed to belong to the Iranian State Navy but rather the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which Navy officials believe are more threatening and unpredictable than Iran's regular navy. Officials said Monday the boats' actions over the weekend were consistent with Revolutionary Guard, and the U.S. Navy appears resolute in its belief that the boats belonged to the group.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman described the situation as a "serious incident that deserves an explanation. ... It was careless, reckless and potentially hostile activity."
Fox NewsMonday January 7, 2007
The United States warned Iran on Monday to refrain from any further provocations following a weekend standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, off Iran's coast, that ended after U.S. ships armed their weapons in preparation to defend against threatening Iranian boats.
"We urge the Iranians to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Monday.
Pentagon sources say what was believed to be five Iranian Revolutionary Guard speed boats — described as "cigarette" boats — charged at the three U.S. Navy ships sailing in the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday en route to the Persian Gulf, FOX News confirmed.
The Iranian boats came within 200 yards of the U.S. ships — a cruiser, a frigate and a destroyer that U.S. officials said were on a routine transport mission.
(Article continues below)
The U.S. ships were forced to take defensive action to avoid striking the close-by Iranian boats and armed their weapons, but neither side fired any shots.
The small Iranian boats also reportedly threw boxes into the water ahead of the U.S. boats before speeding off. It could not immediately be determined what was in the boxes.
The boats were not marked, and not believed to belong to the Iranian State Navy but rather the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which Navy officials believe are more threatening and unpredictable than Iran's regular navy. Officials said Monday the boats' actions over the weekend were consistent with Revolutionary Guard, and the U.S. Navy appears resolute in its belief that the boats belonged to the group.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman described the situation as a "serious incident that deserves an explanation. ... It was careless, reckless and potentially hostile activity."
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