The U.S. Navy fired warning shots on an Iranian vessel on Wednesday that was engaging in harassing activities toward one Kuwaiti warship and two American ones, CNN reports:
A US Navy patrol craft fired three warning shots at an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps boat Wednesday after US officials said it had harassed that patrol craft, CNN has learned.
Another US patrol craft and a Kuwaiti Navy ship were also harassed in the incident, which took place in the northern end of the Persian Gulf.
At one point, the Iranian boat came within 200 yards of one of the US Navy boats. When it failed to leave the area after the Navy had fired flares and had a radio conversation with the Iranian crew, the US officials said, the USS Squall fired three warning shots. Following standard maritime procedures, the Navy fired the three shots into the water to ensure the Iranians understood they needed to leave the immediate area.
The Iranian vessels engaging in these activities are believed to belong to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), as opposed to regular military forces.
In addition to these recent two incidents, Iran captured American Navy sailors in January whose patrol boat had difficulties and reportedly drifted into waters near an Iranian island in the middle of the Arabian Gulf. Iran recorded a video of the sailors apologizing to Iran and released the Americans afterwards.