Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook tells The Associated Press that the boats were moving between Kuwait and Bahrain when the US lost contact with them.
Senior military officials speaking to NBC News say that up to ten US sailors were on a training mission when one of the vessels — small riverines — began experiencing mechanical difficulties and drifted into Iranian waters.
The sailors have been detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces on Farsi Island.
The White House says it is working to resolve the situation, and wants all US personnel returned to normal deployment. Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters at the White House that the administration is hopeful that the situation will be resolved.
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12/1/16
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Iran has detained 10 US sailors after their vessels were stopped in the Gulf, a US official told the BBC...
ReplyDelete"We lost contact with two small US naval craft en route from Kuwait to Bahrain," the official said.
He said that the Iranians informed the US that the sailors were safe and "will promptly be allowed to continue their journey".
The incident happened near Farsi Island after one of the ships encountered mechanical problems.
BBC
Iran navy says 'broken' navigation system led US sailors into Iranian territory...
ReplyDeleteThe Iranian navy announced on Wednesday morning that a "broken" navigation system had caused the two US boats to stray into their territory. The statement comes in the wake of a spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guard saying that the US sailors were being interrogated and that Tehran has asked the US for an apology for "violating" its territorial waters.
"After investigations, it was revealed that the entry of American Marines into Iranian territory was due to a broken navigation system and the issue is being resolved," Admiral Ali Fadavi said.
Fadavi had earlier said on state television that "unprofessional conduct" had led to the incident with the sailors and two US boats near Iran's Farsi island.
"Naturally in territorial waters of the country any naval craft should announce their presence beforehand, especially if they are military," Fadavi said.
"They didn't show much resistance but later the US aircraft carrier for 40 minutes showed unprofessional conduct and demonstrated air and sea movements that showed their lack of commitment to the security of the region," Fadavi added, without being specific......http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/98916-160112-us-working-to-recover-us-navy-patrol-seized-by-iran-us-official
13/1/16
Tehran demands apology after US sailors 'violate' Iranian waters...
ReplyDeleteran has called for Washington to apologise after 10 US sailors were arrested on Tuesday for “violating” its waters. Tehran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard also cast doubt on reports of their prompt release.
"Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was in touch with US Secretary of State Kerry," the Guard's naval commander, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, said in an interview broadcast live on state television.
"Zarif took a firm stance as the sailors had violated Iran's territorial waters and asked the United States for an apology," Fadavi said.
US officials had earlier sounded optimistic that the sailors – nine men and a woman – would be transferred to a US ship on Wednesday morning local time.
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told AP that the Riverine boats were moving between Kuwait and Bahrain when the US lost contact with them.......france24.com