Though the rockets were not fired toward any ship, their proximity to the warships - and several commercial vessels - sparked concern.
“We look at this firing so close to the ships as highly provocative,” said the military official, who was not immediately authorized to be named.
The official confirmed details of an NBC News report that said one rocket came within about 1,500 yards (meters) of the USS Truman as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.
A French frigate and the USS Bulkeley destroyer were also in the area.
The incident took place on December 26, shortly after the Iranian navy had announced via radio it was about to conduct a live-fire exercise and warned ships to steer clear.
The official said the unguided rockets were fired from an Iranian navy “fast inshore attack craft” that was in Omani waters.
The Western vessels did not need to take evasive action, the official said.
AFP
alarabiya.net
30/12/15
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- La marine Iranienne a effectué plusieurs tirs d'essai à proximité de trois navires américains et français la semaine dernière, a affirmé mardi un responsable de l'armée américaine.
"Nous considérons que tirer aussi près des navires est hautement provocateur", a déclaré le responsable militaire, qui n'était pas autorisé à donner son nom. Ce responsable a confirmé les informations de la chaîne de télévision américaine NBC News assurant que l'une des roquettes était arrivée à moins de 1,5 kilomètre du porte-avions américain USS Harry S. Truman à son passage par le détroit d'Ormuz.
Une frégate française et un destroyer américain, le USS Bulkeley, naviguaient également dans les environs, ainsi que plusieurs bateaux commerciaux. Les navires occidentaux n'ont toutefois pas eu besoin de prendre des mesures d'évitement, selon le responsable américain. Les faits se sont déroulés le 26 décembre.
La marine Iranienne avait peu avant annoncé par radio qu'elle était sur le point de lancer un exercice de tir réel et avait demandé aux navires d'éviter la zone. Toujours selon le responsable américain, les roquettes auraient été tirées depuis un navire Iranien qui se trouvait alors dans les eaux du sultanat d'Oman. (Belga)
rtl.be
30/12/15
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Iran Denies It Fired Rockets Near U.S. Warships In Gulf ...
ReplyDeleteIran has denied that its Revolutionary Guards launched rockets near a U.S. aircraft-carrier and other warships as they were entering the Persian Gulf on December 26.
On December 31, Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif called the U.S. report of the rocket firing "psychological warfare."
He said "the naval forces of the Guards have not had any exercises in the Strait of Hormuz during the past week and the period claimed by the Americans."
NBC News, citing unnamed U.S. military officials, said the Guards were conducting a live-fire exercise and the U.S. aircraft carrier came within about 1,500 meters of a rocket.
http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-denies-firing-rockets-us-warships/27459188.html
31/12/15