US accuses Iran’s IRGC of harassing helicopter over the Gulf
The first reported tense interaction between the US Navy and Iran's naval forces comes just days after Bahraini soldiers were killed in a drone attack attributed to Yemen's Houthi rebels, who receive arms from Iran.
Naval forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shone a laser “multiple times” at a US Marine Corps attack helicopter in international airspace in the Gulf on Wednesday night, the US Navy said.
No one was reported hurt in the interaction, but the US Navy called the IRGC’s alleged behavior “unsafe, unprofessional and irresponsible.”
“These are not the actions of a professional maritime force,” spokesperson for US Navy’s 5th Fleet Cdr. Rick Chernitzer said in a press release.
“US naval forces will remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows while promoting regional maritime security.”
