x

Trump orders U.S. Navy to destroy Iranian gunboats

President Donald Trump, on Wednesday said he had directed the U.S. Navy to “shoot down and destroy” Iranian gunboats that “harass our ships at sea”.

Trump said this in a Twitter post, a week after a reported confrontation between Iranian and American vessels in the Persian Gulf.

On April 15, the U.S. Navy accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of “dangerous and provocative actions” against six of its ships.

The navy said the vessels were taking part in a military exercise with U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters in international waters at the time.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet later released a video footage of the encounter, which showed the gunboats circling a bigger U.S. ship.

But the IRGC dismissed the accusation as a “Hollywood version” of the incident, which it said was provoked by the U.S.

In a statement, the corps stated that U.S. forces started it by blocking one of its ships in two separate incidents in early April.

The IRGC said it had to increase patrol in the Gulf after the U.S. Navy exhibited “dangerous behaviour while ignoring warnings”, adding that it would respond “decisively” to any act of provocation.

It published its own video of the encounter which showed the IRGC vessels loitering around the American boats for an hour, before leaving.

Reports say the April 15 incident came after suspected armed IRGC operatives seized a Hong Kong-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman, redirected it onto Iranian waters, and the released it.

Both countries came close to a war in January after the U.S. killed a top Iranian General, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq.

Trump had accused Soleimani of spearheading a series of Iranian-sponsored attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq.

But tensions had been high in the Persian Gulf since last summer when the U.S. and its western allies blamed Iran for a series of sabotage attacks on oil assets in the region.

Consequently, U.S.-led naval patrols were intensified, and American troops and air defense systems were sent to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

Trump said this in a Twitter post, a week after a reported confrontation between Iranian and American vessels in the Persian Gulf.

On April 15, the U.S. Navy accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of “dangerous and provocative actions” against six of its ships.

The navy said the vessels were taking part in a military exercise with U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters in international waters at the time.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet later released a video footage of the encounter, which showed the gunboats circling a bigger U.S. ship.

But the IRGC dismissed the accusation as a “Hollywood version” of the incident, which it said was provoked by the U.S.

In a statement, the corps stated that U.S. forces started it by blocking one of its ships in two separate incidents in early April.

The IRGC said it had to increase patrol in the Gulf after the U.S. Navy exhibited “dangerous behaviour while ignoring warnings”, adding that it would respond “decisively” to any act of provocation.

It published its own video of the encounter which showed the IRGC vessels loitering around the American boats for an hour, before leaving.

Reports say the April 15 incident came after suspected armed IRGC operatives seized a Hong Kong-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman, redirected it onto Iranian waters, and the released it.

Both countries came close to a war in January after the U.S. killed a top Iranian General, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq.

Trump had accused Soleimani of spearheading a series of Iranian-sponsored attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq.

But tensions had been high in the Persian Gulf since last summer when the U.S. and its western allies blamed Iran for a series of sabotage attacks on oil assets in the region.

Consequently, U.S.-led naval patrols were intensified, and American troops and air defense systems were sent to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalistAs...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

FCTA Opening Up District Roads Encourages Rural Dev. Discourages Rural-Urban Drift – Wike

By Joyce Remi-BabayejuThe FCT Minister Barr Nysome Wike had...

Goronyo’s Untiring  Contribution To National Development Appreciating.

By Jabiru Hassan. It is gratifying to express  that the...

ICDA charges States Exco to Work with Onu – Igala in States

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe apex Igala Cultural Development Association,...

2027: Borno APC prays Tinubu to retain Kashim Shettima as VP 

*State to remain in APC, no merger no change-...

Shettima launches ARISE Human Capital Dev. Roadmap for A’Ibom  

By Ogenyi Ogenyi,UyoVice President Kashim Shettima, on Monday in...

Why I’m begging for feeding: 48 yrs graduate of Nuhu Bamali poly, Zaria

By Achadu Gabriel, kaduna As the economic situation in the...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img