Posted on 08/28/2014 7:04:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A U.S. Coast Guard vessel fired in self-defense on an Iranian boat in the Persian Gulf, the Navy said Wednesday, an encounter that could exacerbate tensions between the two countries as they work to hammer out a lasting deal over Iran's nuclear program.
Cmdr. Kevin Stephens, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said personnel on a small boat dispatched from the U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat Monomoy fired a single shot when it saw crew on a nearby Iranian dhow training one of its two .50-caliber machine guns on them and preparing to fire.
"This action by the dhow's crew demonstrated hostile intent which resulted in the defensive fire by the Coast Guardsmen," he said.
Dhows are traditional wooden boats common to the region that are typically used for trade.
No Americans were wounded in the encounter, which happened in international waters around 11:30 a.m. local time Tuesday, Stephens said.
The Monomoy was operating on "a routine maritime security operation" when it contacted the dhow's bridge. After initial contact, the Iranian vessel stopped communicating and the Coast Guard ship deployed small boat to investigate, Stephens said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
A US Coast Guard vessel in the Persian Gulf?
Coasties!
Coasties board and search there. Dangerous mission.
So, what were the Iranians smuggling?
Apparently one of six coast guard vessels deployed from Africa to south east Asia. According to Wikipedia, this cutter has been in the Persian Gulf region since 2002.
I was going to ask the same thing.
Why is a U.S. Coast Guard vessel in the Persian Gulf on the other side of the world instead of, you know, guarding our coast?
a wooden iranian dhow with a 50 cal mounted? really?
Talk about the mother of all mission creeps.
How is this part of their mission? US Navy, absolutely. I fail to see how this is a US coast.
In the New World Order and open borders the idea of America as a nation state is passé. American wealth, resources, and military might are for the world to benefit from.
Correct - smuggling, drug interdiction, boardings, inspections and there is also a contingent that does ice breaking and buoy maintenance.
Exactly what I was thinking. Have we made significant changes to the extent of our territorial waters?
> Cmdr. Kevin Stephens, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said personnel on a small boat dispatched from the U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat Monomoy fired a single shot when it saw crew on a nearby Iranian dhow training one of its two .50-caliber machine guns on them and preparing to fire.
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