Iran's IRGC speed boats 'harassed' ship in Strait of Hormuz: US Navy
There have been several incidents involving US and Iranian naval forces in the strategic waterway in recent years, prompting the US to increase patrols.
The US Navy said an American destroyer and UK Navy frigate responded to a distress call by a commercial ship pursued by fast boats belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday evening.
The Bahrain-based US 5th Fleet said the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul and the UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster received the call just before 5 p.m. local time.
“The civilian crew reported three fast-attack craft with armed personnel approached and followed the merchant vessel at close distance. The fast-attacked craft were assessed to be from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy,” said the US Navy in a statement, referencing Iran’s elite IRGC forces.
The US also dispatched a P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft, while the Lancaster deployed a helicopter to observe the interaction. "The situation deescalated approximately an hour later when the merchant vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene. The merchant ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz without further incident," the US Navy's statement read.
