United States Navy ship has fired several warning shots at an armed Iranian patrol boat in the northern end of the Persian Gulf, Pentagon defense officials confirmed on Tuesday.
USS Thunderbolt tried to warn the approaching Iranian ship over the radio by firing flares and blowing five blasts from its whistle, the officials stated. However, the craft reportedly ignored all these warnings and came within 150 yards of the US ship, which then opened fire. The warning shots were fired into the water out of concerns of a possible collision after which the Iranian vessel "ceased its provocative actions," the officials added. The boat remained in the area that the sources described as "international waters in the northern Arabian Gulf."
According to the officials, the Iranian craft is believed to have been operated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
