By Amaani Lyle
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2014 – A U.S. Coast Guard vessel
operating in international waters in the Arabian Gulf fired today on an Iranian
dhow in what U.S. military officials described as a defensive move after the
crew of the Iranian vessel trained a machine gun on the Americans with hostile
intent.
A statement issued by the U.S Fifth Fleet in Bahrain said
the incident occurred as the Coast Guard was conducting a routine maritime
security operation. The American vessel fired a single shot at the dhow, but
military officials said they did not know whether it hit the Iranian boat,
which left the scene and did not communicate with the American crew. No U.S.
personnel were reported injured.
The inflatable Coast Guard boat had been dispatched from the
USCG Patrol Boat Monomoy to query the Iranian dhow, a common approach in the
Arabian Gulf intended to improve maritime security in the region.
U.S. military rules of engagement state that unit commanders
always have the inherent right and obligation to exercise unit self-defense in
response to a hostile act or demonstrated hostile intent.
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