Armed Iranian Fast Attack Boats Harass US Ship; USS Mahan Fires Warning Shots, Iran Boats Flee

The U.S. Navy said today (January 9, 2017) that the guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan fired three warning shots at four Iranian fast-attack boats in the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, according to the Washington Examiner website.

The small boats were armed and considered a potential threat to the Mahan, which was escorting the amphibious assault vessel USS Makin Island and the replenishment oiler USNS Walter Diehl.

Navy officials say the U.S. warship was conducting a nighttime transit of the strait at the time, and went through a series of standard procedures to warn the Iranian boats away.

As the Iranian boats were closing within 900 yards, the Mahan fired three warning shots from its .50-caliber machine guns, and the Iranian boats departed.