Posted on 03/23/2007 6:46:26 AM PDT by maquiladora
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Fifteen British Royal Marines on patrol in the Persian Gulf have been "seized" by the Iranian navy, the British Ministry of Defense said.
The personnel from the HMS Cornwall frigate were surrounded by Iranian navy vessels after completing a routine inspection of a merchant ship, the ministry said in a statement.
They were then escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian waters, it said.
The Marines were "engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters," the ministry said in a statement on Friday.
A U.S. military official who monitors the region told CNN the Marines stopped an Iranian ship suspected of smuggling automobiles, and boarded it for an inspection.
While the Marines were on board, six Navy ships from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard showed up and claimed the British had entered Iranian waters.
A dispute ensued over whether the Marines were in Iraqi, international, or Iranian territorial waters, and the 15 were then seized and taken to Iran, the U.S. military official said.
An Iraqi fisherman told Reuters the incident took place in the Shatt al-Arab waterway that marks the southern stretch of Iraq's border with Iran. His account could not be immediately confirmed.
The British ministry's statement said the Marines "completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters."
The statement added: "We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level and on the instructions of the Foreign Secretary, the Iranian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office.
"The British government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I suppose what was rumored here earlier this morning has now been verified by CNN and FNC.
Why would the Iranians do this? Very curious!
Great. More hostages in Iran. Where is Margaret Thatcher when we need her?
Bush-Blair- Rumsfeld Rule #13 of Politically Correct warfare, never allow your troops to defend themselves, by shooting and killing the enemy, to prevent this do not give troop/sailors live ammo in designated combat zones.
A mystery.
Amen to that.
Amen to that. If it's true that a British frigate was nearby, then it's unbelievable that they didn't immediately move in to defend their marines. My guess is that the British marines radioed to their mother ship, that ship's captain radiod for permission to rescue the marines and was told to stand down by his higher ups. Don't want to create an "incident" with Iran you know. Even if they are infringing into Iraqi waters.
Note to British mums: Don't let your lads join the British Navy. They'll become the property of the Iranians.
HMMMM!
They are nuts!
Fifteen British Royal Marines on patrol in the Persian Gulf have been "seized" by the Iranian navy
The personnel from the HMS Cornwall frigate were surrounded by Iranian navy vessels
????? Royal Marines????
What resistance did they put up? How many Iranians were Killed? Zero??? where was the Friggate?? Corwall?
how about "candy-Ass"
HMS Candyass...and the Royal "Nancy-Boys"
England You get what you deserve!!!
When are you going to WAKE UP!!!! this is WAR for EVER...
They will never stop, never listen, never quit! untill they are DEAD....So make them Dead.
Today's military in the free world uses sophisticated GPS technology.
I would have to bet that the USA, England, Canada, Australia, have the very best of the best technology.
GM Onstar is GPS, and it can find you and your car no matter where you are.
The Iranian navy could still be using sextants for all I know.
But---I am willing to bet than the English sailors were NOT in Iranian waters.
This is another jab in the ribs by the nutjob running Iran. He's just crying out for someone to come in and slap him to dust, IMO.
I mention this because things like this Iranian hostage-taking often have stunning unanticipated results.
Because they feel that the US are the ones who have been snatching all their high ranking military officers off of the streets in the last three weeks.
No fight in the Brit Marines?? Sumpin' ain't right...
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