A screenshot of surveillance footage from a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane exhibiting what had been assessed to be three Iranian fast-attack craft approaching an internationally flagged service provider vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, June 4, 2023. [Photo by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs]
In the most recent of a sequence if incidents within the Strait of Hormuz, United States and United Kingdom Royal Navy forces responded to a misery name from a service provider vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, June 4, as Iranian fast-attack boats harassed the industrial ship.
According to fifth Fleet, the internationally flagged service provider vessel made a radio misery name at 4:56 p.m. native time whereas transiting the slim strait. The civilian crew reported three fast-attack craft with armed personnel approached and adopted the service provider vessel at shut distance. The fast-attacked craft had been assessed to be from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) and U.Okay. Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster (F 229) each obtained the misery name, and Lancaster launched a helicopter to offer surveillance. U.S. fifth Fleet additionally directed a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane to observe the scene.
The scenario de-escalated roughly an hour later when the service provider vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene. The service provider ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz with out additional incident.
U.S. fifth Fleet says it stays vigilant and is bolstering protection round the important thing strait with companions to boost regional maritime safety and stability.
Not that surprisingly, Iranian state-controlled media outlet PressTV put a special spin on the story
“Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has dismissed Western claims that a merchant ship was ‘harassed’ by its boats in the Strait of Hormuz as the elite force responded to a distress call and rushed to its help,” stated PressTV.
It quotes Brigadier General Abbas Gholamshahi, the commander of the IRGC Navy’s First Zone, as saying {that a} Marshall Islands-flagged commerce vessel issued a misery name when it was approaching the Strait of Hormuz at 4:15 p.m. native time on Saturday.
“The command and control center of Iran at the Hormuz Strait responded to the call immediately, and resolved the ship’s concerns about the presence of non-military light boats near it after considering the request and evaluating the situation in that region,” Gholamshahi is reported as saying.
Gholamshahi stated the commerce vessel’s captain had complained he had noticed “three non-military light boats” at a distance of some miles, voicing concern about attainable harassment.
