Pentagon Says Iranian Ship Aims Gun at US Navy Helicopter in Strait of Hormuz

Local Editor

A small Iranian vessel pointed a gun at a US Navy helicopter in the Straits of Hormuz, Pentagon officials said.

The incident, which took place in international waters, is likely to exacerbate the mutual animosity between the two countries' militaries.

The encounter took place in the Straits of Hormuz when a US Navy MH-60 helicopter flew within half a mile [0.8km] of two Iranian ships in international waters, two American war officials told Reuters on Monday.

One of the vessels, which reportedly belongs to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, aimed an unknown weapon at the US helicopter.

As a rule, fast attack craft and patrol ships are fitted with heavy machine guns or low-caliber cannon.

"The behavior by our standards is provocative and could be seen as an escalation," the officials said, adding that they consider the act "unsafe and unprofessional."

Saturday's incident is the latest in a string of similar maritime encounters that began earlier this year.

In September, the USS Firebolt had to change course after a Revolutionary Guard ship sailed directly across its path.

In July, the USS New Orleans and its escort ship, the USS Stout, a guided missile destroyer, were approached by several Iranian vessels whose crews filmed the sailors.

The USS New Orleans was carrying about 650 Marines at the time, as well as Army General Joseph Votel, who oversees all American forces in the Middle East.

The most notable incident to date took place in January of this year, when ten US sailors were taken into custody after their boats crossed into Iranian waters.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team