Navy - Iranian Boats Provoke Incident in Strait of Hormuz

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WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Three U.S. Navy vessels took evasive actions after five Iranian boats buzzed the ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz Jan. 6, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Jan. 7.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Whitman called the Iranian provocation "a serious incident." The fast Iranian boats approached at "distances and speed that showed reckless, dangerous and potentially hostile intent," he said.

The incident lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, he said. The Navy ships were going into the Persian Gulf when the Iranian boats confronted them.

"Small, Iranian fast boats made some aggressive maneuvers against our vessels and indicated some hostile intent," Whitman said. "This required our vessels to issue warnings and conduct some evasive maneuvers. The U.S. Navy vessels were prepared to take appropriate actions, but there was no engagement of the vessels."

He said the speed of the Iranian boats and their distance from the U.S. Navy vessels demonstrated potentially hostile intent. Bridge-to-bridge radio communications between the Iranian vessels and the U.S. Navy ships reinforced this impression, he said.

The U.S. ships were operating in international waters within the Strait of Hormuz and followed all appropriate protocols, Whitman said. The U.S. Navy ships are USS Port Royal (CG 73), USS Hopper (DDG 70) and USS Ingraham (FFG 61).

U.S. warships will take all the precautions needed to safely transit the open waters of the strait, the Pentagon spokesman said.

"This is reckless and dangerous behavior on the part of the Iranian vessels, and it should cease immediately," Whitman added.

Typically, small boats such as these are under command of Iranian Revolutionary Guards, U.S. Navy officials said.

All U.S. warships transiting the open seas are prepared to take action should their ship or crews be threatened, Whitman noted. The U.S. ships "did take appropriate action in terms of maneuvering and communicating, and were prepared to take further action if necessary," he said.

The Defense Department will work with White House and State Department officials to come up with the appropriate way to address the incident with the Iranian government, Whitman said.

Iranian boats took 15 British sailors engaged in United Nations-sanctioned operations in the northern Persian Gulf on March 23.

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• war
• ship
• battle
• Iran
• Hormuz

[ibanez991]

it doesnt matter. they were in INTERNATIONAL waters.

[ibanez991]

An FFG an a DDG are hardly a threat like that. and international waters is 50 miles out, not 12.

[LASuperboy]

@sihkang wake the fuck up man...i'm not an arab and even if i was it shouldn't discount the argument. Simple minded people like you are on the decline and people are seeing the bullshit of the govt for what it is...example OWS. the time for dumbasses like you who believe whatever the media says is over....

[sihkang]

@LASuperboy everything to you arabs is propaganda is it not also propaganda tor u arabs denying the truth all the times. u filthy conspiracy theorist. habaa. Bin ladens death was propaganda, infact even your own name is propanganda. i dont know why muslims hate the truth soo desparately. gushhh

[LASuperboy]

this is such propoganda..."we mean no harm"

[penumbra155]

So the Iranian "Navy" is nothing more than a collection of small craft, swift boats and the like (yes, I'm sure someone out there with a surfeit of time will send me a complete inventory of their assets which will probably include a few vintage tincans and a sub or two)? I think the term "Navy" might be misapplied in this case. If what is depicted here is an accurate reflection of their "navy", then I think the term is misapplied else most state fishery patrols would qualify as navies as well.

[southernboi229]

Pacheco is my dude man I miss his ass too, I heard he went to iraq or something never had a chance to say goodbye

[Rictof]

Protecting our assets, you got it! Yeah, what the main population doesn't understand is that we have something called Rules Of Engagement which are in place to prevent another USS Cole incident from happening. After all, we have Battle Stations scenarios in boot camp based on that incident.

[Rictof]

I was sleeping at the time this happened, but I think they were trying to identify us. I'm just glad we didn't go to general quarters. 3:20 is the worst accent I've ever heard... Obviously not Iranian. If I were free to guess, I would've said it was some disgruntled piece of crap sailor that wants to see combat action.

[Rictof]

DUDE! You know Pacheco? I served with him, he's a cool cat! See ya!

[rsadutchman]

what afuss bout nothing much

[hamidrezazamani]

there is persian gulf,us navy was not in water international,viva iran