Monday, July 16, 2012

US Navy Fires at Motor Boat, Killing One Person; Boat Headed Toward Ship, Was Warned to Halt

One person was killed and three others injured today (July 16, 2012) when a U.S. Navy ship fired at an approaching motor boat off the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf, according to the Reuters website.

Just why the boat headed toward the U.S. refueling ship, the USNS Rappahannock, is not clear, U.S. officials said.

But the U.S. Navy -- fearing it could be a suicide bomber boat -- said the motor boat ignored repeated warnings to halt its approach, before a security team fired several rounds at it from a .50-caliber machine gun.

Yesterday, Iran renewed its threats to close the Strait of Hormuz -- through which 40 percent of the world's seaborne oil exports pass -- unless sanctions imposed over its nuclear program are revoked.

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